Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA region's top homelessness official to step down this week
Va Lecia Adams Kellum on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.
(
Carlin Stiehl
/
LAist
)
Topline:
The leader of the region’s top homelessness services agency will close out her tenure this week, as the organization continues to deal with ongoing criticism over accountability and a loss of county funding.
Va Lecia Adams Kellum’s last day as CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, known as LAHSA, will be Friday, the agency announced.
Why it matters: LAHSA said in a statement that Adams Kellum led the agency through a period of “substantial change” and two years of drops in the point-in-time homeless count. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing — LAHSA faced fierce criticism in recent years after a county audit and a March report found serious accounting and oversight issues at the agency.
The backstory: Adams Kellum first said in April that she’d be stepping down, days after L.A. County officials moved to shift hundreds of millions in taxpayer funding away from LAHSA. She was hired in early 2023 and spent more than two years as the region’s top homeless services executive.
Support for LAist comes from
“I am incredibly proud of LAHSA’s talented and dedicated staff and deeply grateful for their tireless work,” Adams Kellum said in a statement at the time she announced her departure.
What's next: The LAHSA Commission will vote on the next, new temporary leader, although an agency spokesperson did not know when. The commissioners directed staff to begin pre-hiring procedures for the interim CEO on July 11, according to LAHSA.
Read on … for more about Adams Kellum and LAHSA.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist