Department will be built on Housing for Health, the most successful housing and services program that exists countywide 

April 1, 2025

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath and Chair Kathryn Barger’s motion to consolidate homeless services into one, unified County department. The action was approved in a 4-0-1 vote to centralize the work of 14 County departments and bring functions performed by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) back under the direct oversight of the Board of Supervisors to accelerate efficiency and results.

This action marks a pivotal moment for accountability across the County’s homeless services system, and builds on actions Supervisor Horvath has led over the last two years to create a more accountable and transparent homeless services system to deliver tangible outcomes. The department will be based on the most successful model that exists systemwide—Housing for Health in the Department of Health Services, which experiences a 37% throughput rate to housing.

“With the support of my colleagues, Los Angeles County is leaving the status quo behind, and is embracing a model for homeless services that centers accountability and results. This isn’t making the system bigger; it’s making it work better, which our communities have been demanding for years,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “The hard work to overhaul our current system begins now, guided by the success of Housing for Health, a proven model that serves the sickest of the sick. I have never been more hopeful that we will create the change that is long overdue—change that I know we are capable of delivering for people experiencing homelessness and all 88 cities and unincorporated communities of Los Angeles County.” 

The change begins immediately with the creation of the consolidated administrative team from the Homeless Initiative and Housing for Health, as well as robust community and provider engagement. The work to transition staff and funding from LAHSA will also begin immediately and is set to be completed by July 1, 2026. The third phase of the transition will include integrating functions of other County departments that touch homelessness, including the Departments of Mental Health, Public Health, and Public Social Services, among others. A report back from the CEO on this phase is due this month.

“Today’s action marks a significant step forward in our fight against the homelessness crisis gripping Los Angeles County,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “This crisis demands a dedicated County department—one that will focus relentlessly on addressing the root causes of homelessness with a comprehensive, accountable approach. Let me be clear: we cannot simply build our way out of homelessness. Real solutions require sustained investments in treatment beds and supportive services. This new department will build on the proven success of our Health Department’s Housing for Health program, strengthening and expanding what already works—we are not starting from scratch. I am confident that we can achieve this while maintaining a strong partnership with the City of Los Angeles and our other 87 cities. Our Board is taking full responsibility for the tax dollars we collect and distribute, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and real results for those we serve. The buck stops here.”

This action was first introduced three years ago by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness, which recommended both establishing a County entity dedicated to homeless service delivery and streamlining LAHSA. With Measure A investments coming to the County this month, there is a moment of opportunity to eliminate layers of bureaucracy and tie investments to outcomes.

The effort to create this long overdue change began last November when Supervisors Horvath and Barger introduced a motion to begin this process. The CEO issued a report on February 28, which serves as the foundation for Supervisor Horvath’s motion to move forward with the consolidated County department. It also follows multiple audits that have found gaping holes in accountability at LAHSA.

Department of Housing for Health 

The consolidated County department will scale an existing County program with proven results: Housing for Health. Housing for Health is focused on people experiencing homelessness who are very sick and are high utilizers of emergency room visits and healthcare services. Their philosophy is people-centered and case managers are highly trained and guide their clients from homelessness to housing to stability. Their work includes a homelessness prevention program to keep people from becoming homeless, street-based outreach to connect people to housing and social services, and a benefits advocacy program to get people the benefits they deserve. In 2024, Housing for Health saw the following outcomes:

• Nearly 7,000 people were served through our interim housing programs and 37% of people exited to permanent housing.
• 25,000 people received intensive case management services in permanent supportive housing and 94% of people retained housing after 1 year.
• More than 8,800 people received benefits advocacy services and our participants had an 84% claims approval rate.
• We served more than 859 people in our Enriched Residential Care program, which makes beds available through the board and care network for people who need care and supervision.

To learn more about Housing for Health’s model, visit dhs.lacounty.gov/housing-for-health/our-services/housing-for-health/.

To read Supervisor Horvath’s motion with approved amendments: Implementing the Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness Report Recommendation No. 1 (Establish a County Entity Dedicated to Homeless Service Delivery) and No. 3 (Streamlined LAHSA), click here.

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