LA homeless policy: If this isnt peak failure, what is?

Has LA homeless policy reached peak absurdity?The California Post reported that a city homeless initiative championed by Councilwoman Nithya Raman has spent more than $60 million to fill three subsidized apartments with homeless Angelenos.Meanwhile, City Hall still pumps hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars into the scandal-marred LA Homeless Services Authority –– despite years of talk about the need for change.And that’s just the start.Raman’s Time Limited Subsidy Program, set up in September, aimed to fill 2,000 apartments with homeless people, to get them off the streets.As of late last month, the program had filled just three units.

You can see where this is going.The scheme is purportedly less expensive than Mayor Karen Bass’ signature Inside Safe program, which pays exorbitant rates to temporarily stash some of LA’s homeless –– who numbered 43,000 at last count –– in hotel rooms.But not only has Raman’s initiative not been cost-effective; it hasn’t been effective at all.And then there’s the city’s dismal record with the LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).Even as Bass appoints five of the 10 members who govern the authority (with LA County selecting the remainder), the city has appeared powerless to fix the agency –– or leave it.LA County in 2025 all but shunned the organization, creating an in-house department to address homelessness and housing.And this year, the Trump administration yanked $200 million in federal funding for LAHSA as the feds probe the agency for alleged financial mismanagement, conflicts of interest and poor contract oversight.At the time, Vice President JD Vance said, “the fraud and corruption ends today.”Meanwhile, LA just keeps whistling past the scandals.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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