Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing has proposed cutting roughly a third of its outreach and supportive service funding for homelessness in the next fiscal year, citing a projected $303 million budget shortfall.
Key points:
Though the overall budget for homeless services hovers around the same level, the share dedicated to direct outreach (street engagement, navigation, prevention) is slated to shrink.
Much of the revenue stream comes from a voter-approved sales tax (Measure A), but that tax is primarily earmarked for longer-term housing construction. The faster-moving services are now less funded.
Advocates warn that reducing outreach may hinder efforts to transition people from the street into housing – a key step in reducing chronic unsheltered homelessness.
The timing is delicate: While recent counts show slight progress in some metrics, the structural and funding challenges remain significant.
Why it matters: This move underscores the tension between housing-infrastructure investment (building shelters, affordable units) and front-line service provision (street outreach, wraparound care). In one of the nation’s most visible homelessness crises, funding shifts could have real consequences for individuals and communities.
