Nick Gerda
What I cover
I’m a reporter focusing on government accountability in Southern California, including around the homelessness crisis. I try to find answers to questions like: Why does it often seem like there’s so little progress around homelessness? What can be done to make systems more effective? And how are people in charge of these systems using their authority?
My background
I grew up in L.A. and Orange County and previously covered the county government in Orange County for more than a decade — often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health and the role of money in politics. At LAist, my reporting on corruption spurred a criminal investigation that led one of Orange County’s most powerful officials to resign, plead guilty and get sentenced to years in prison for a scheme that diverted millions in food money from needy seniors. For that work, in 2025, I was honored to be named journalist of the year for California, SoCal and Orange County and to receive the national Dan Rather Medal for News and Guts.
My goals
I want my coverage to inform the public and inspire positive change by identifying areas for improvement in the ways leaders are exercising power.
Best way to reach me
Email: ngerda@laist.com. Signal: ngerda.47
-
The proposal comes after a pair of scathing audits about the L.A. Homeless Services Authority, known as LAHSA. If approved, the annual spend of taxpayer money would instead be directly overseen by the county. -
Many of the problems identified were at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the public agency known as LAHSA. -
Executives with potential conflicts of interest will no longer appear on the signature lines of contracts, the L.A. homelessness services agency says. The change to LAHSA procedures was outlined after LAist found the CEO signed a $2.1 million contract with her husband’s employer. -
That incident is one of numerous complaints of alleged mismanagement against Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich. -
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger responded to an LAist investigation that found LAHSA CEO Va Lecia Adams Kellum signed a $2.1 million contract with her husband’s employer. -
The proposed spending plan is up for discussion today and a decision is expected as early as next month. And LAist wants to hear from you. -
![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/30b2650/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5997x4198+27+0/resize/180x126!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Government documents show Va Lecia Adams Kellum, who leads an agency that manages over $700 million in homeless services contracts each year, inked deals with the nonprofit where her husband is a senior staffer. -
Public employees often must disclose outside income and gifts to in state-mandated forms. Why aren’t top LA homelessness officials? Out of hundreds of employees, only the CEO currently files, according to an LAist review of records. -
Before her time at L.A.’s homeless services agency, Lilly Simmering oversaw a county government department in Orange County that greenlit millions of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit now embroiled in a fraud scandal. -
County records obtained by LAist show officials failed to follow through on recommended precautions ahead of the costly fire, now topping $400 million in claims.
![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/e068700/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5997x4198+27+0/resize/360x252!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
