Nick Gerda
Why does it often seem like there’s so little progress around homelessness? What can be done to make systems more effective? From the halls of government to the streets, I follow money and policies to examine what’s working, what’s not, and how it’s affecting people in Southern California.
I grew up in L.A. and OC, and previously spent more than a decade at Voice of OC covering the county government in Orange County — often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health, and the role of money in politics.
My reporting on corruption in Orange County spurred a federal investigation that led to a powerful O.C. supervisor — Andrew Do — pleading guilty to a federal bribery charge and resigning. That work won the Dan Rather Medal for News and Guts and was a finalist for an Investigative Reporters and Editors award.
If you have a tip, you can reach me on Signal. My username is ngerda.47.
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And if you're comfortable just reaching out by email, I'm at ngerda@scpr.org.
I’m always eager for story ideas and feedback. Your insights help inform my reporting.
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Providers say they’re struggling to pay their own staff because it often takes months to get reimbursed by L.A.’s city and county homeless services agency. -
In her first public statements since controversy erupted over millions of unaccounted for tax dollars, Rhiannon Do says she’s no longer with the O.C. nonprofit Viet America Society. She also says she never had a leadership role. Public documents show otherwise.
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Deadline extended for nonprofit with ties to OC supervisor to account for millions in taxpayer fundsViet America Society has been given more time after a pair of county deadlines came and went earlier this month.
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The debate comes after LAist obtained and published a leaked analysis commissioned by the city about its effectiveness.
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L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and a top homelessness official, at the urging of a federal judge, promised in court to provide more transparency on how the city is spending taxpayer funds.
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Supervisor Andrew Do directed millions to the group, which was supposed to go toward feeding needy residents. “If they can’t prove then they should pay the money back,” Supervisor Katrina Foley told LAist.
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The program aims to move unhoused people off the street and into temporary housing. Its budget is $250 million for this fiscal year.
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A U.S. District judge announced Thursday that he plans to rule that the city of L.A. misled attorneys over promises to clear encampments and provide shelter beds.
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Orange County officials say they are scrambling to understand what’s happening at a county-funded nonprofit led by O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s 22 year-old daughter. The county says the group has failed to account for millions in taxpayer dollars.
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Analysis of a major homelessness enforcement policy, first reported by LAist, found 41.18 zones have failed to keep areas clear of encampments and get people housed.
