Los Angeles County will spend $843 million on its own department to combat homelessness in the 2026-2027 fiscal year after shifting responsibilities and funding away from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), officials announced Wednesday.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to fund the new LA County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH), which will manage housing, rental assistance services, and homeless outreach programs. This decision follows the county’s move last year to withdraw approximately $300 million from LAHSA after an audit revealed concerns about spending transparency.
“The county will prioritize programs and services that have a track record of being effective in reducing homelessness,” county officials said in a statement, adding that they will focus on helping families, youth, and domestic violence survivors.
The funding comes from Measure A, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters that generates approximately $1 billion annually for homeless programs across the county.
The creation of the county’s own homelessness agency faced criticism from Los Angeles city officials when first announced. Mayor Karen Bass and several city council members had urged the county to maintain the joint city-county approach through LAHSA.
“When the federal government is taking everything away, we need to be united,” Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who represents the West LA district, said when the change was first proposed.
Meanwhile, LAHSA continues to operate key programs including the annual Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, which recently concluded its 2026 volunteer portion. The organization also manages the Winter Shelter Program and various outreach initiatives targeting specific populations experiencing homelessness.
The 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, conducted by LAHSA, showed a decrease in unsheltered homelessness alongside an increase in sheltered homelessness, indicating some progress in the region’s efforts to address the crisis.
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