DOWNTOWN : $11 Million Allocated for Homeless Services

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission has approved the allocation of $11.65 million in federal funds to create services for Los Angeles’ homeless population, part of a $20-million three-year grant called the Los Angeles Homeless Initiative.

“I think it’s going to make a visible difference [for the homeless] in L.A. County as these services come on line,” said Eugene Boutilier, executive director of the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, a year-old joint city-county agency.

On May 11, the 10-member commission approved recommendations made by the staff of LAHSA, which is responsible for administering the grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The agency also is responsible for holding accountable the nonprofit groups that receive the money to provide services such as emergency shelter and social service programs.

The 41 proposed projects selected for funding were among 102 projects submitted to LAHSA, Boutilier said. Funding was available for access centers, rental assistance, outreach teams, 24-hour bed slots, substance-abuse rehabilitation, long-term case management, health care and assistance for application for government benefits.

Programs were awarded grants ranging from $40,000 to $710,000.

Major geographic areas targeted for the programs were South-Central, Central Los Angeles which includes Skid Row and Pico Union, and East Los Angeles. Of the 16 agencies approved for funding of 24-hour bed slots, seven agencies in South-Central were chosen because it is an area with an underserved homeless population, Boutilier said.

“It is where a substantial portion of unemployment and poverty is found, and that causes homelessness,” Boutilier said. “It is spread out, but there are very few services there. We are putting a lot of resources into South-Central L.A.”

He said agencies with winning proposals should receive contracts and initial funding by July 1. Paul Tepper, director of programming for the Weingart Center, said his agency was approved for about $800,000 in services to the homeless and those in danger of becoming homeless. The money will go toward the creation of an access center, long-term case management and emergency shelter.

“This provides enhancements,” Tepper said. “It doesn’t end homelessness, but it helps.”

The remaining portion of the federal grant is designated for a $4-million center in Skid Row, a $2.55-million community center that will provide services for the mentally ill and drug addicted, and $1 million will go toward the creation of affordable housing for graduates of shelters.