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L.A. Receives $84.2 Million In Federal Grants To Help Fight Homelessness
(Photo by Malingering via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
The Los Angeles region will receive federal grants totaling $84.2 million to help with its homelessness problem. The money comes via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to City News Service. It will be spent among 180 different projects outlined by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's (LAHSA) Continuum of Care program, ultimately adding 9,347 apartment units or beds. A total of $1.25 million of the funding will be used for planning.
The city may receive more money in the spring, which is when the Department will give out the next round of funding. LAHSA initially asked for $110 million. If they received the rest of that amount, LAHSA Executive Director Peter Lynn said the money would be spent on 32 other housing projects.
Some important projects are already underway. Recently, it was announced that the underutilized West L.A. Veterans Affairs campus would be transformed into 1,200 units of permanent supportive housing for disabled or traumatized veterans and 700 short-term units for homeless veterans.
Meanwhile, volunteers recently conducted their annual count of the number of homeless people in the county, this year adding the ability to connect certain people to needed services on the spot, including veterans, youths and those with mental or physical disabilities.
Los Angeles is already spending $100 million per year on issues related to homelessness, and a recent report from L.A. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana and Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso stated that any significant gains against homelessness in the city would cost in upwards of $1.87 billion dollars over the next 10 years.
Related: Los Angeles' Homeless Problem Photobombs Silver Lake Instagram Hotspot
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