Embattled L.A. homeless services agency to lay off 284 workers - BERITAJA

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority said Monday that it plans to laic disconnected 284 employees, chiefly citing a determination by the region to propulsion costs and group up its ain bum services department.

LAHSA, a associated city-county agency established successful 1993, receives money from the metropolis of L.A., the county, the authorities and the national authorities to administer bum services, including shelters and outreach, crossed the county.

But past year, pursuing years of disapproval that LAHSA lacked due oversight and financial control, the region Board of Supervisors voted to propulsion costs and programs from the authority and move them into an internal department.

That modulation takes effect July 1, the commencement of the coming fiscal twelvemonth and the time LAHSA said the 284 layoffs will return effect.

Workers to beryllium laid disconnected see 216 represented by SEIU Local 721 and 68 non-union staff. How galore will yet go unemployed is unclear.

Because LAHSA is simply a associated city-county agency, it presently has labor funded by the metropolis and those funded by the county.

Jesus Ruiz, a spokesperson for the region Chief Executive Office, said the region remains committed to uncovering jobs for departing, county-funded LAHSA workers and is presently moving pinch LAHSA to place really galore of the 284 labor fresh that definition.

As of now, however, the soon-to-be laid disconnected LAHSA labor represented by SEIU Local 721 “are not presently scheduled to modulation into region employment,” Mike Long, a spokesperson for the local, said successful an email.

The metropolis of Los Angeles is besides debating moving astatine slightest immoderate programs retired of LAHSA, but has yet to make a decision.

Depending connected what fund the metropolis approves for adjacent fiscal year, LAHSA said it could clasp immoderate laid disconnected workers.

Long said the national is moving pinch the metropolis and region to “save these captious positions.”

LAHSA interim main executive Gita O’Neill thanked LAHSA labor for “their unwavering dedication and difficult work” and credited them pinch being the “driving force” down a caller simplification successful unsheltered homelessness, which though it remains sky-high has fallen 14% since 2023.