Did Measure H & Measure HHH Fund Solutions for the Homeless?

The necessity of Measure H...before it was passed in March 2017 (and Measure HHH passed in Nov  2016) was a bold move by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors based on their February 2016 approved list of 47 strategies for combatting homelessness of which over 1/3 needed additional funding.  Four months BEFORE  Measure H was passed, by voters, the LAC BOS attached FOUR ADDITIONAL strategies.

Measure H was passed with 585,905 (69.9%) votes in March 2017.   County voter turnout, for the special election, was 17%; while L.A. City voter turnout was 21%, driven by the selection of a mayor, four ballot measures, and eight of fifteen city council seats.  

The verbiage of Measure H was designed to lure votes but in hindsight it was too  broad in scope and services to be attainable within the budget: 

"Los Angeles County Plan to Prevent and Combat Homelessness. To fund mental health, substance abuse treatment, health care, education, job training, rental subsidies, emergency and affordable housing, transportation, outreach, prevention, and supportive services for homeless children, families, foster youth, veterans, battered women, seniors, disabled individuals, and other homeless adults; shall voters authorize Ordinance No. 2017-0001 to levy a 1/4 cent sales tax for ten years, with independent annual audits and citizens' oversight"

The same ordinance that placed Measure H on the March 2017 ballot also created a five-member Citizens’ Oversight Advisory Board (COAB) to ensure a public accounting of the funds.  

Quarterly Reports – Homeless Initiative (lacounty.gov)

It should be noted that as of July 3, 2023, the Chief Program Officer & Chief Operating Officer positions, of the L.A. Homeless Services Authority, are vacant. 1927 - LAHSA Org Chart

LAHSA is governed by an appointed, 10-member Commission. The LAHSA Commission has the authority to make budgetary, funding, planning and program policies. The Commission regularly meets every 4th Friday of the month at 9:00 am (except November and December – meets the 3rd Friday).  Measure H Citizens’ Oversight Advisory Board –  

June 1st Citizens Oversights Advisory Board Agenda indicates the next meeting is Sept. 7th. at 1pm (not July or August)

Excerpts from the December 1st Conference Call Meeting Minutes:

• FY 2020-2021 there were 91,000 placed into Permanent Housing & 108,000 Interim Housing placements in the past five years. 

• FY 2021-2022 there were 84,170 placed into Permanent Housing and 114,212 Interim Housing placements in the past five years.

• Last year there were 7,000 permanent supportive housing (PSH) placements, 7,000 rapid rehousing placements, and 7,000 self-resolved exits.
• Returns to homelessness was about 8% after 6 months and 12% after 12 months.
  
• Information in the report is shared with the public ...on the CEO-HI
  website, shared in various forums, and incorporated within the Homeless Initiative Funding Recommendations process, and New Homeless Initiative Framework.
• No public comments.
  

The LA Homeless Services Authority was created in 1993. "It coordinates and manages over $800 million annually in federal, state, county, and city funds for programs that provide shelter, housing, and services to people experiencing homelessness."

Measure HHH was passed with 916,518 votes (77.1%) in November 2016 with a buoyed voter turnout due to it being a Presidential election. 

The ballot details revealed: "District officials estimated the total debt service cost for the loan—including principal and interest—at $1,893,000,000. District officials also estimated the average property tax rate required to repay these bonds to be $9.64 per $100,000 in assessed property value" 

LAHSA 2022-2023 TOTAL Budget $845,367,023

• $  40,280,745 Administrative (LAHSA) 
• $ 78,883,246  LAHSA-Run Programs
• $726,203,032 Service Providers

Ironically the Hilton Foundation, in 2018, detailed how the homeless initiatives were passed....but to date have not addressed what was NOT ACCOMPLISHED 5 years later.  Proposition-HHH.-Measure-H_Final_GraphicsUpdate05.25.2018.pdf (hiltonfoundation.org)

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