L.A. County to Give Priority to Chronically Homeless
Los Angeles County supervisors yesterday unanimously adopted a proposal yesterday to prioritize the chronically homeless and those with addiction and mental health problems when deciding how to distribute housing and resources, the Los Angeles Times reports today.
This is a major step for Home for Good, and for efforts by local officials to give the most vulnerable populations much-needed emphasis. It also speaks directly to the work Lamp Community is doing at the Frank Rice Access Center. Our street outreach team will be working with the Fashion District Business Improvement District and Common Ground to house the most vulnerable persons living on the streets. Lamp is proud to be leading in this local initiative, and we look forward to positive outcomes.
Read the whole story:
L.A. County to focus homeless services on most hard-core street dwellers
“Los Angeles County supervisors agreed Tuesday to give priority to the most hard-core street dwellers when allocating housing and other homeless services.”
“‘These are the people who need help the most,’ said Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who proposed the motion with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. ‘They are the ones who have been on the streets the longest amount of time…. [They] are the most in danger of getting sick and dying on the streets.’”
“The proposal, adopted unanimously, is part of a plan recommended by business leaders that aims within five years to put a permanent roof over the heads of all homeless veterans and the chronically homeless by making more efficient use of existing resources.”
“Wendy Levin, a member of the Los Angeles Business Leaders Task Force on Homelessness, said Tuesday’s motion takes an ‘essential and bold step forward.’”
“The group’s plan, called ‘Home for Good,’ proposes reallocating about $230 million in federal, state and local resources each year to pay for a rapid increase in permanent supportive housing, which includes counseling and treatment, for the most persistent street dwellers.”
