The more money spent on homeless, the more homeless we get—and the more studies, non profits, bureaucrats and staffers we get. Now a judge has ordered an audit of the money spent in Los Angeles.
“In a significant move towards enhancing transparency and accountability in addressing Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis, U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter on Monday edged closer to sanctioning a court-monitored, independent audit of the city’s spending on homelessness. This includes scrutinizing Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe initiative along with the operations of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
The push for an audit comes in the wake of a motion filed by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, accusing the city of failing to fulfill the terms of an April 2022 agreement aimed at clearing homeless encampments and expanding shelter options.”
The only winners are the special interests, the scammers and bureaucrats. Taxpayers, homeless and community are the losers.
Judge Orders Comprehensive Audit of L.A.’s Homelessness Funding: Probing Why Hundreds of Millions Yield Little Results
Jamie Paige, Westside Current, 3/19/24 https://www.westsidecurrent.com/news/judge-orders-comprehensive-audit-of-l-a-s-homelessness-funding-probing-why-hundreds-of-millions/article_09e51a00-e58f-11ee-b9df-271243cdf48e.html
LOS ANGELES —In a significant move towards enhancing transparency and accountability in addressing Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis, U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter on Monday edged closer to sanctioning a court-monitored, independent audit of the city’s spending on homelessness. This includes scrutinizing Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe initiative along with the operations of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
The push for an audit comes in the wake of a motion filed by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, accusing the city of failing to fulfill the terms of an April 2022 agreement aimed at clearing homeless encampments and expanding shelter options.
Under the terms of the settlement, Los Angeles committed to reducing homeless encampments, increasing the number of shelter beds, setting deadlines to track progress, and restoring public spaces to their original purposes.
Additionally, the County’s agreement pledged to create 3,000 treatment beds for individuals with mental illnesses and addictions, provide subsidies for 450 “Board and Care” beds, and set similar deadlines and objectives to measure its efforts.
Judge Carter, overseeing the case, has questioned major lapses in the management of funds designated for homelessness programs. He pointed out that around $600 million was allocated to city provider programs from 2017 to 2019 with inadequate documentation.”We’ve encountered invoices totaling $248,000 with no details on the services provided,” Carter said in a hearing on March 8.
During the court hearing, attended by Bass and City Council President Paul Krekorian on Monday, the need for financial transparency was a focal point. Mayor Bass assured the court and attendees of the city’s commitment to publicizing detailed expenditure reports, a promise that received applause from those present.
Judge Carter also talked to LAHSA executive director Va Lecia Adams Kellum– on speaker phone – to get her commitment for transparency by including LAHSA in the audit.
The Alliance has previously scrutinized financial management in city and county efforts to combat homelessness. A February audit of County services, conducted by Tim Campbell on behalf of the Alliance, found that $210 million allocated from Measure H — a sales tax increase approved by Los Angeles County voters to specifically address homelessness — remains unspent.
This action was particularly timely, aligning with the Alliance’s recent motion to demand the City of Los Angeles adhere to their settlement agreement, in light of the city’s lack of action.
A preliminary document outlining the audit’s scope, a point of agreement among all involved parties, was finalized on Monday, with submission to the court scheduled for Thursday morning. Another hearing is scheduled for Friday in downtown Los Angeles.
