LA Homeless Services Authority Faces Layoffs, Employees Worry System Gutting

0:00It's April 22nd. Welcome to California News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Employees at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority are sounding the alarm after the agency announced Laos for 284 workers. By May 1st, with their last day set for June 30th, this comes from major funding cuts by the county, shifting $300 million away from LAHS to build their own homeless services. Department that launched back in January, county leaders pulled the plug last year following audits that slammed LAHSA spending, leading to the CEO stepping down. Now, the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing is taking over, but employees worry this shake-up will gut the system right when it's starting to show results. In an open letter to Mayor Karen Bass, the City Council, and supervisors, staff begged for no job cuts, saying it'll mean more street encampments, preventable deaths, and family stuck in dire spots. They highlight recent wins like a 14% drop in county street

1:02homelessness, and 18% in the city from 2022, 2024, plus housing 77,800 people permanently. County officials say they're committed to absorbing LAHSA workers, already offering jobs to 69 outreach folks, with 68 accepting and 27 starting in various departments. They're still figuring out hires for the rest as layoff notices haven't gone out yet. This push to save jobs underscores how fragile the fight against homelessness is. Here losing experienced hands now could undue hard fought gains, and deep in the crisis on our streets.