Smith reiterated, ‘Everyone knows and every study supports the fact that the solution to houselessness in Los Angeles and across the country is housing.’ He emphasized the necessity for LAHSA to focus on housing affordability and availability rather than narratives that suggest individualized homeless individuals are undeserving of support.
The debate surrounding O’Neill’s appointment also included criticisms about her salary; Calvin Moss, a resident of Los Angeles, labeled the $370,000 compensation as ‘obscene.’ Furthermore, Catherine King, a Venice resident with experience in homelessness issues, questioned the need for a prosecutor to lead LAHSA.
Meanwhile, during her final remarks as LAHSA’s leader, Adams Kellum reflected on her tenure, stating her commitment to driving transformative change in addressing the homelessness crisis. She acknowledged the challenges faced during her time and the longstanding nature of the issues at hand.
Adams Kellum’s resignation followed the implementation of a recommendation from the 2020 Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness that aimed to shift key responsibilities from LAHSA to a centralized department, which is anticipated to be operational by January 1.
Under her guidance, LAHSA reported a reduction in unsheltered homelessness for the second consecutive year, with data revealing a 4% decrease in homelessness across Los Angeles County and a 3.4% drop within the city itself.
The new county homelessness department is set to receive funding through Measure A, a half-cent tax intended for homelessness and housing efforts, which will commence in 2024 and will gradually transfer funding from LAHSA to this centralized body by July 1, 2026.
Adams Kellum’s leadership faced scrutiny as LAHSA has been criticized for its lack of transparency and inadequate progress in alleviating the homelessness crisis, especially following critical audits that revealed significant issues surrounding financial management.
In her closing statements, she affirmed that the agency had prioritized addressing audit findings, enhancing rehousing efforts, and tackling uncomfortable truths head-on, recognizing that real and lasting change requires time in a domain where systemic issues have existed for decades.
The audits had indicated that LAHSA disbursed funds to various nonprofit providers without formalizing agreements relating to repayment terms. Recent findings have also shown that the agency’s financial management practices have made it difficult to accurately assess spending and the performance outcomes of its contractors.
In response, LAHSA stated its commitment to improving data tracking and transparency, a point underscored by its introduction of new tracking tools on its website. Recently, outside counsel Norton Rose Fullbright has been engaged to undertake an independent review of allegations related to ethical violations within the agency’s management.
Despite controversy surrounding her leadership, both Gruel and Mayor Bass expressed gratitude toward Adams Kellum for her work while in the role, with the mayor acknowledging the immense pressure she faced in attempting to address a crisis that has persisted for over forty years.
In her remarks, Bass emphasized that the challenges of homelessness are not easily solvable and highlighted the support Adams Kellum has received from various community members, urging her to continue contributing to the field of homelessness solutions in the future.
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