News

Nov 27

California Housing Crisis Podcast: A possible homelessness ballot measure in 2020

  Californians might be asked to vote on another homelessness ballot measure next year under a new proposal being considered by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s top homelessness advisers. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who co-chair the governor’s homelessness task force, are discussing a potential 2020 statewide ballot measure that would fund a plan to provide all Californians ...
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Nov 26

As storms move in, L.A. to open some homeless shelters ahead of schedule

  Los Angeles government officials declared Tuesday that they would open up some emergency shelters ahead of schedule and rapidly set up new ones as incoming storms threaten to drench homeless people this week. The newly announced efforts will provide hundreds of additional beds for people trying to escape the cold and wet weather in coming days. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, ...
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Nov 18

Majority of L.A. County voters say taxpayer money on homelessness isn’t spent effectively, Times poll finds

  As homelessness has exploded in Los Angeles in recent years, taxpayers have been willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on housing, shelters and services to help get people off the streets. But a new poll shows that a broad majority of voters think the city and county have been ineffective in spending that money and that new policies are ...
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Nov 14

Who sponsored the poll on homelessness?

  This poll of public opinion of homelessness in L.A. County was produced by the Los Angeles Times in partnership with the Los Angeles Business Council Institute, a nonprofit research arm of the Los Angeles Business Council. The Los Angeles Business Council is made up of dues-paying members from the business community. The group has been active in city politics, advocating for ...
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Oct 25

HHS Awards $2.27 Billion in Grants to Help Americans Access HIV/AIDS Care, Support Services, and Medication

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today approximately $2.27 billion in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grants were awarded to cities, counties, states, and local community-based organizations in fiscal year (FY) 2019. This funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) supports a comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, medication, and essential support services to more ...
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Oct 8

Governor signs mandatory Section 8 bill

  Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a bill that will make it illegal to reject a prospective tenant solely based on the applicant’s use of a Section 8 federal housing voucher.  Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, SB 329 by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, will ban blanket policies against taking Section 8 applicants and require landlords to treat voucher-holders like any other applicant. The ...
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Oct 7

$600,000 for homeless housing? Audit suggests spending money on shelters instead

 With the costs of building housing on the rise, Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin is recommending that some projects be reevaluated to see if their budgets can be cut to use less of the city’s $1.2-billion homeless housing bond. In an audit that will be released Tuesday, Galperin found that more than 1,000 units of housing approved for funding through ...
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Oct 7

Are many homeless people in L.A. mentally ill? New findings back the public’s perception

Mental illness, substance abuse and physical disabilities are much more pervasive in Los Angeles County’s homeless population than officials have previously reported, a Times analysis has found. The Times examined more than 4,000 questionnaires taken as part of this year’s point-in-time count and found that about 76% of individuals living outside on the streets reported being, or were observed to be, affected by ...
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Sep 30

Some L.A. officials want a state of emergency declared as homelessness crisis worsens

Facing a deepening quagmire over homeless encampments, Los Angeles elected officials are increasingly looking to sweeping statewide initiatives to shake loose solutions. The latest proposal from Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and City Councilman Joe Buscaino would have the governor declare a state of emergency on homelessness in California. Supporters view such a declaration as a novel strategy to free ...
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Sep 11

California lawmakers act to keep landlords from refusing low-income renters

  SACRAMENTO —  California landlords would no longer be allowed to reject prospective tenants solely because they hold federal Section 8 housing vouchers under a bill passed by the state Legislature on Wednesday. Should Gov. Gavin Newsom sign it, Senate Bill 329 would prohibit landlords from issuing blanket denials against the 300,000 Californians who receive the vouchers. The program provides the largest direct federal subsidy for ...
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