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.
Housing Authority looking to add more vouchers for homeless veterans
FILE: Gary Reed, a homeless veteran, conducts a survey for the 2014 Homeless Count with Valerie Godin, who has been homeless for the past one and a half years.
(
Mae Ryan/KPCC
)
An L.A. County Housing Authority official on Tuesday told supervisors that his department is hoping to add hundreds of housing vouchers to address the county's veteran homeless population.
The news comes a day after KPCC reported the county was falling short in its effort to house all its homeless veterans by December 2015.
At a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, CD3 Supervisor Sheila Kuehl — who represents much of West and North Los Angeles — asked L.A. County Housing Authority head Sean Rogan how the department is planning to address the issue.
"What steps is HACOLA taking to help L.A. reach the goal of ending veteran homelessness by the end of this year?" Kuehl asked. "Looks like L.A. city might be on track, but the county doesn't look like it's so on track."
Support for LAist comes from
Rogan replied that the Housing Authority is hoping the county will be granted funding for more vouchers that providing help specifically to homeless veterans.
Vouchers allow low-income individuals to pay only a set portion of their income toward rent, based on how much money they make or receive each month. The rest is picked up by the government.
"We feel very confident that we will receive an additional 255 vouchers," Rogan said, "which will bring our total to well over 1,550 vouchers specific to homeless vets."
Rogan added that his staff is working to get funding from Proposition 41, a voter-approved initiative that directed state bond funds to help build housing for low-income and homeless veterans. He also pointed out that a recently-constructed "village" for homeless veterans will soon begin accepting up to 40 tenants in El Monte.
Last week, United Way's Home for Good campaign released data that show the county will need to find homes for over 6,000 vets — or an average of at least 604 people each month — to reach its December goal. In February, it was able to house just 262.
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
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist