Chronic Homelessness Initiative Evaluation
Political Will
Addressing the homelessness crisis across Los Angeles is complex. Several public agencies of the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County oversee funding and resources for the homeless service system. Over the past four years, leaders from these agencies have come together to work toward a common goal of ending homelessness by aligning funding and prioritizing highly vulnerable individuals. As a result of this collaboration, the community has a strong bench of leaders across City and County departments, homeless service providers, and community organizations.
During 2018, stakeholders across Los Angeles County sought solutions to the increasing number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. As in previous years, political and public will was tested when the public resisted efforts to create new shelters and permanent housing, while at the same time the visibility of the unsheltered population, including people living in encampments, grew. In response, organizations significantly ramped up efforts to build public and political support. They hosted community-wide events to educate the public by showcasing examples of supportive housing and having people with lived experience of homelessness tell their stories. Additionally, community stakeholders came together for the first time to strategize on state advocacy efforts. The intent was to capitalize on a new housing-focused administration at the state level.
2018 Political Will Progress
Goal: Commit state and federal resources to implement the City and County plans.**Not articulated in the Foundation five-year strategy; not expected to be fully achieved within the Phase II timeframe.2018 Status: The State awarded $85 million in Homeless Emergency Aid Program funding to the City of LA and $81 million to LAHSA.
ON TRACKLegislative Advocacy
(click here) Goal: Secure commitments from local elected and public officials to implement the community plan.2018 Status: Measure H funding continues to be dispersed throughout LA County. Proposition HHH funding continues to be committed to developing PSH across the City. ON TRACKCountywide Strategies
(click here)2017 Political Will Progress
In 2017, political officials, governmental agencies, community organizations, and philanthropy continued to find ways to collaborate, plan, create, and implement strategies to reduce and prevent homelessness. With the passage of Proposition HHH in 2016 and Measure H in 2017—two new sources of significant, dedicated funding to combat homelessness—City and County leadership created mechanisms for monitoring and oversight. Additionally, funding was provided to local cities and regional Councils of Governments for increased planning to address homelessness at the local level.
However, elected officials now feel increasing pressure to show immediate progress in reducing homelessness with this dedicated funding. Many community members are overwhelmed by the number of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness across the County, and they express a genuine fear that rising housing costs may lead them to become homeless too. Though members of the public often criticize elected officials for not taking sufficient or timely actions to reduce homelessness, there is sometimes vocal opposition from neighborhood residents when specific locations are proposed for the creation of permanent supportive housing (PSH) or emergency shelter.
During 2016 and 2017, public officials successfully focused on aligning their priorities and strategies across the County and the cities within it. In order for these new collaborations and partnerships to become fully functional in implementing these complex, comprehensive community plans, the next several years must focus on continuing to clearly define roles and responsibilities. Public officials also need to communicate more clearly and frequently to the public about progress and about how the community can continue to sustain that progress. Additionally, without additional state and federal resources to pair with Measure H and Proposition HHH, certain goals of the homeless plans will not be met. The community should come together to advocate for those resources.
For more information about the activities that occurred in 2017, visit the 2018 Annual Report.
2016 Political Will Progress
During Phase I (2011 – 2015) of the Chronic Homelessness Initiative, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation supported strategic education and advocacy with local, state, and federal public officials through several of its grantees and partnerships, including direct engagement and support to the United Way’s “Home For Good” partnership to end homelessness. As the Initiative entered Phase II (2016 – 2020), the community’s momentum including efforts from Home For Good and community partners culminated in the development and adoption of joint City and County homeless strategies and significant ballot measures to fund them.
During 2016, the City and County began work to scale-up and formalize the organization of key partnerships, funding sources, and resources called for in the plans. In an effort to align the growing number of various management and administration entities, in 2016, LAHSA and Home For Good were charged with collaborating across more than 19 departments, agencies, and stakeholder groups to develop a public-private Regional Homelessness Advisory Council. Initial implementation of the City and County plans relied on the one-time funding boosts, but the community almost immediately pivoted to building out longer-term sustainability to fund the strategies at the scale needed.
For more information about the activities that occurred in 2016, visit the 2017 Annual Report.
