Homeless Aid Group Picks New Leader

A Chatsworth-based attorney has been selected chairman of the 10-member Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

In a 9-0 vote, William Powers was elected to head the authority, which develops and implements programs and makes recommendations to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to assist the homeless.

“I’m just grateful that my peers had the confidence in me to name me chairman,” said Powers, who has been a member of the authority since 1995. “It feels good, but it will be a big challenge.”

He said his main goal is to see improvement in the care of the homeless.

Powers is a member of the Los Angeles County and San Fernando Valley bar associations, the Assn. of Business Trial Lawyers and the Northridge Kiwanis Club.

He has served as a mediator, an arbitrator, a settlement officer and judge pro tem for the Los Angeles Superior Court. He has also served as vice chairman of the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley and was a member of the Cal State Northridge advisory task force.

Cam Currier, a spokesman for Supervisor Mike Antonovich, referred to Powers as “someone who is not afraid to jump in and solve problems when he feels that the situation in the community needs to be improved.”