The Fate of the Homeless is in the Short-Handed Hands of LA Homeless Authority

GUEST COMMENTARY--Los Angeles Homeless Authority (LAHSA) is in immediate need of change to improve outcomes, produce transparency, and to address their quality of service and accountability.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) serves both the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. Their role is to coordinate supportive services and housing resources for those in need. It is apparent that there is a need for oversight of LAHSA and their capability of managing the funding levels resulting from Measure H, and the implementation of their role as service providers for the homeless. 

The Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller recently reported that there were deficiencies within the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), in particular, they are understaffed and lack adequate financial management.

The review found:

• Delays in signing up and paying contractors.
• Auditors found nearly $5 million of the active $6.9 million in accounts payable were between one and 120 days past due
• High staff turnover in the finance department — five of seven accounting positions were vacant.

This is clearly a case of mismanagement of funding and again I question whether LAHSA has the capacity of managing funding of this magnitude. Furthermore, what do these findings say about the collaborative partnership that Mayor Garcetti spoke of in his State of the City Address?

“Voters put their trust in us by passing Measure H and Proposition HHH, to deliver the housing and services that people on the streets desperately need.”— Mayor Eric Garcetti

It appears that LAHSA is in desperate need of Commission Re-Appointments, and implementation of a Paragon method that will

• Create organizational change that focuses on getting people the services that they need
• Address the financial business aspect and high turnover of accounting staff
• Address problems across departments and the high turnover of supportive staff
• Address risk management and compliance as it relates to outside vendors
• Recruit champions of change

Now we have a better understanding of why the service planning areas have been neglected. In particular, service planning area – 1 (SPA-1). This service area has individuals, families, women with children, and disabled veterans who have been waiting for services since November of 2017.

(Diedra M Greenaway, MS/MBA, is a Los Angeles City Budget Advocate and BA Budget Chair for the Department of Economic and Workforce Development. Diedra is a CityWatch contributor.)

-cw