February 3rd, 2026

LOS ANGELES, CA –

Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger to strengthen oversight and accountability in homeless services contracts as the County launches the Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH).

The motion follows years of documented deficiencies in contract monitoring and financial oversight under the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), including repeated audit findings that identified lapses in accountability and increased risk of lost or misused funds. These failures were a key reason the Board voted to remove County homeless services funding from LAHSA and return direct oversight to a centralized County department.

“The Department of Homeless Services and Housing was created to set a new standard of trust and accountability,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “As the department launches, every contract, every dollar, and every outcome must withstand scrutiny. Best practices aren’t optional—they’re required. Contracts will be proactively and aggressively monitored so the public knows their dollars are being used exactly as intended. We don’t have resources to waste or time to lose in addressing the homelessness crisis, and this action protects public trust while ensuring services deliver real results for the people who need them most.”

“This motion is about delivering on our promise to replace the status quo with strict oversight and clear results,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Partnering with the Auditor-Controller to implement unannounced site visits and firm performance measures helps ensure every dollar is spent efficiently to get our unhoused neighbors off the streets and into safe spaces. We are starting up our new Department of Homeless Services and Housing with protocols that guarantee our contractors are held to the highest standards of accountability.”

The motion directs HSH, which officially launched on January 1, 2026, to establish rigorous contract issuance, monitoring, and oversight protocols in coordination with the Auditor-Controller, and to report back to the Board within 60 days on how these safeguards will be implemented before contracts are executed for next fiscal year.

“The Department of Homeless Services and Housing may be a new department, but we are built on a solid foundation of proven contracting models. Strong oversight is central to our contracting and monitoring practices, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with the Auditor-Controller to build upon this foundation. Together, we must ensure our contract implementation and monitoring protocols are robust, efficient, and align with countywide requirements, allowing us to most effectively direct resources toward preventing and addressing homelessness in our region,” said Sarah Mahin, Director of LA County’s Department of Homeless Services & Housing.

The Board’s action reinforces Los Angeles County’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and effectively delivering homeless services.

Read the full motion here.

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