Head of Embattled Homeless Authority Resigns
The head of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Va Lecia Adams Kellum, has resigned, just days after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to create a new department to oversee homeless services. This decision comes after a series of negative audits and public criticism of LAHSA’s handling of taxpayer funds.
Background
The Los Angeles County supervisors voted on April 1 to create a new department, which would be responsible for $1 billion in annual taxpayer funds from the new county homeless services initiative, Measure A. The new department would take over the $350 million that the county currently sends to LAHSA annually, and would be directly responsible for spending Measure A dollars.
Resignation
Adams Kellum sent a resignation letter to media outlets, stating that it was time for her to leave. "With the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors implementing the 2020 Blue Ribbon recommendations, shifting key responsibilities from LAHSA to L.A. County, now is the right time for me to resign as CEO," she said. Adams Kellum is expected to stay on board for a transition period of 120 days or longer if needed.
Reaction to Resignation
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who led the effort to create a county agency to take control of homeless services, responded to Adams Kellum’s resignation, stating that "this is a pivotal moment—one that calls for long-overdue change." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who appointed Adams Kellum to the position two years ago, thanked her for her service and noted that she had helped to reduce homelessness in the region.
Challenges Faced by LAHSA
LAHSA has faced significant challenges in recent months, including negative audits and public criticism. A series of audits have raised questions about the agency’s handling of taxpayer funds, including a failure to establish formal agreements for cash advances to partners and a lack of accountability for underperforming service providers.
Audit Findings
The audits found that LAHSA had only recovered 5% of the $50 million in cash advances issued to its partners since 2017, and that the agency was unable to provide adequate supporting documents for approximately $5 million of the advances. The audits also found that LAHSA did not have a formal process in place to regularly review the performance of providers or to hold underperforming service providers accountable.
Conclusion
The resignation of Va Lecia Adams Kellum marks a significant shift in the way that Los Angeles County approaches homelessness. The creation of a new department to oversee homeless services is a major change, and it remains to be seen how this will impact the region’s efforts to address homelessness. One thing is clear, however: the current system is not working, and change is needed.
FAQs
- What is LAHSA?
LAHSA is the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a agency responsible for addressing homelessness in Los Angeles County. - Why did Va Lecia Adams Kellum resign?
Adams Kellum resigned as CEO of LAHSA after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to create a new department to oversee homeless services. - What will happen to LAHSA now?
The new department will take over the $350 million that the county currently sends to LAHSA annually, and will be directly responsible for spending Measure A dollars. - What were some of the challenges faced by LAHSA?
LAHSA faced significant challenges, including negative audits and public criticism, and a lack of accountability for underperforming service providers. - What is Measure A?
Measure A is a county homeless services initiative that provides $1 billion in annual taxpayer funds to address homelessness in Los Angeles County.
