The Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency on Wednesday approved nearly $11.5 million in homeless prevention funds, the largest allocation yet for the new agency.
The approval comes as other government agencies scale back other programs to combat homelessness, raising concerns that more people could end up on the streets and in shelters.
“We’re in a position to put in new dollars at a time when dollars are scarce,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, who serves as chairman of the LACAHSA board, said in an interview. “Help is on the way.”
In one vote, LACAHSA’s board of directors signed off on more than $7.6 million in direct rental funding and flexible financial assistance for people at risk of homelessness. An additional $3.8 million in administrative funds was authorized to carry out this effort.
Despite strong evidence that services such as financial assistance can prevent people from becoming homeless, it is impossible to know after the fact that any given person would have been homeless without the assistance. Studies have shown that only a small percentage can.
Research has shown that it is difficult to identify who is at risk of homelessness, and it is impossible to know whether someone who received homelessness prevention assistance would have lost their home without it, but there is evidence that financial support can help keep at least some people off the streets.
The money approved Wednesday comes from Measure A, a sales tax increase approved last year to address the statewide homelessness crisis.
A portion of those dollars go to LACAHSA to build affordable housing and fund homelessness prevention efforts like rental subsidies. The county receives most of the remaining dollars to fund traditional homeless services such as access and shelters.
Despite the approval of Measure A, the district plans to cut some outreach programs next year, because Measure A brings in less money than expected as the economy slows and consumers spend less.
The state has also cut funding for the homeless to close budget gaps and there are federal cuts to come. In all, local officials said a combination of state cuts and expectations could force more than 14,500 formerly homeless families in LA County back onto the streets or into shelters next year.
Money from LACAHSA could keep some of those people living.
The $11.5 million approved Wednesday will be distributed to nine nonprofits and community organizations and is expected to help 700 households pay rent over the next 18 months.
In the past few rounds, LACAHSA had approved a total of $18.1 million in homeless prevention and tenant protection programs, including eviction protection, and expects to sign off on another $75 million by the end of June.
Other groups that will receive money in Wednesday’s round include the nonprofits PATH, the Watts Labor Community Action Committee and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.
Richardson said distributing the money through multiple non-profit organizations with relationships with different communities will help ensure that “no group is left out” of aid.
