Gita O’Neill, a long-serving city prosecutor in Los Angeles, has been appointed as the interim head of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) following the departure of former chief executive Va Lecia Adams Kellum.
O’Neill’s appointment has sparked criticism from advocates who argue that her history in city attorney’s office is rooted in policies that effectively criminalize and displace unhoused individuals.
Commissioners of LAHSA expressed confidence in O’Neill’s expertise, noting her previous role as the city attorney’s first director of homeless strategies, which aims to guide the organization through its current turmoil, exacerbated by recent oversight and budgetary concerns.
Mayor Karen Bass supports O’Neill’s appointment, citing her extensive experience as a valuable asset during a critical time when the agency is faced with a potential loss of funding from the County of Los Angeles.
However, critics like Kristy Lovich, a community organizer and former LAHSA employee, contend that O’Neill’s record suggests a conflict with the agency’s mission to help unhoused people.
Lovich emphasized the detrimental message sent by O’Neill’s appointment, accusing the city of waging “a war on the poor.”
Despite declining an interview request for this story, O’Neill expressed her commitment to addressing the homelessness crisis in a statement.
A veteran in the L.A. City Attorney’s Office with 25 years of experience, O’Neill has held various roles, including prosecuting misdemeanor offenses that fall under the category of “quality-of-life” crimes.
These offenses include loitering, drug possession, graffiti, and public urination, often affecting the unhoused community disproportionately.
O’Neill also managed the Homeless Engagement and Response Team, a program designed to assist unhoused individuals in dealing with legal issues, but critics argue that the policies she endorsed have harmed many.
Peggy Lee Kennedy, a Venice-based activist, echoed this sentiment, stating that O’Neill’s career is characterized by prosecuting unhoused people and creating detrimental policies against them.
Data from a Human Rights Watch report indicates that between 2016 and 2022, more than 42% of all LAPD misdemeanor arrests involved unhoused individuals, who only comprise about 1% of the city’s overall population.
John Raphling, from Human Rights Watch, noted that LAHSA has increasingly aligned itself with law enforcement, leading to concerns that O’Neill’s appointment signifies a continuing trend toward criminalization.
This shift is particularly alarming given that LAHSA’s own guiding principles, established in 2021, advocate against the criminalization of homelessness.
The agency’s violation of these principles became evident in 2019 when it began assigning outreach workers to accompany police officers on encampment sweeps, something Lovich criticized as counterproductive to LAHSA’s mission.
During this troubling period, LAHSA included the offer of shelter or housing in merely 3% of all sweeps between 2016 and 2022, according to Human Rights Watch.
O’Neill’s appointment comes amidst significant challenges for LAHSA, including a county audit that revealed serious oversight and accountability issues.
A recent report indicated a decision by L.A. County leaders to withhold nearly $350 million from LAHSA, redirecting those funds to a new county department aimed at handling homeless services.
Faced with mounting pressures from state and federal levels, local leaders now grapple with an environment that could compel increased enforcement measures against unhoused individuals for public camping and other minor infractions.
The urgency surrounding this issue intensified when President Donald Trump signed an executive order prioritizing cities that enforce laws against public camping and squatting for federal grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Local officials express concerns that this executive order might jeopardize hundreds of millions currently allocated for programs focused on housing and services rather than punishment.
Moreover, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s order encouraging anti-camping enforcement has compounded these tensions, particularly after a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court expanded cities’ powers to prohibit tent camping in public spaces.
In the recent selection process, LAHSA’s commissioners voted 7-1 to appoint O’Neill, with the only dissenting voice being Tanisha Saunders, who serves on the commission as a property manager with the Venice Community Housing Corporation.
Just two weeks earlier, during another vote, commissioners had confirmed O’Neill as a top candidate with a 6-2 majority, reflecting divided opinions regarding her suitability for the role.
Commissioner Justin Szlasa cited operational experience as a concern but did not elaborate further on his reasoning for the no vote.
As interim CEO, O’Neill will be directly accountable to the commission and has acknowledged the pressing need for enhanced transparency and accountability regarding public expenditures related to the homelessness crisis.
Her statement highlighted that rebuilding trust in LAHSA hinges on a commitment to financial transparency, especially in their contracting processes.
O’Neill’s tenure will coincide with the transition of funding to the new county homelessness department that is set to emerge by next year while seeking to sustain LAHSA’s relationship with the city.
County officials have emphasized the necessity for O’Neill to deliver a higher level of accountability than in previous years amid significant reform.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath stated the agency and its new leader must embrace change to restore public trust that has been compromised by past scandals and mismanagement.
O’Neill’s contract, starting August 26, spans 12 months, with an annual base salary of $370,000.
As she embarks on this interim leadership role, O’Neill faces the critical task of balancing the dual pressures of community needs and the prevailing political climate that continues to challenge the efficacy and ethics of homelessness intervention efforts in Los Angeles.
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