Chief Legislative Analyst report relative to the establishment of a City of Los Angeles Continuum of Care. (This item is referred to the Housing and Homelessness Committee and the Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging, and Disability Committee.)

This report from the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) analyzes the feasibility of the City of Los Angeles establishing its own Continuum of Care (CoC), independent of Los Angeles County. The analysis, prompted by Council Motions, details the five technical steps required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for CoC formation, including notification, a stakeholder vote, governance charter adoption, establishment of a Coordinated Entry Process (CES), and operation of a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

The report highlights significant challenges and costs associated with forming a City CoC, noting that only a small percentage of such attempts are successful and that it could take years and millions of dollars to implement. Consequently, the CLA does not recommend pursuing the formation of a City CoC at this time due to the extensive resources and time commitment required and the lack of immediate short-term benefits.

Instead, the report proposes alternative approaches to address City concerns within the existing LA CoC structure. These alternatives focus on reforming the Coordinated Entry Process to better align with City priorities and jurisdictional boundaries. Options include establishing a City Service Planning Area (SPA), developing a City CES Alternate for specific programs like Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), or creating a fully City-operated Coordinated Entry Process. The report suggests that these alternatives could offer benefits similar to an independent CoC by allowing for greater City oversight and responsiveness to its own homelessness resources, without the immense challenges of CoC formation.

Residents may experience improved coordination and potentially more responsive services for individuals experiencing homelessness if the City implements alternative approaches to its current involvement in the regional Continuum of Care. The report advises against forming a separate City CoC due to its complexity and cost, suggesting that reforms within the existing system could better serve City needs.

high