Results of the first full year of Measure H funding are in, demonstrating widespread progress as services ramped up and thousands of individuals and families were housed temporarily or permanently, Los Angeles County officials said Friday.

Significantly, 7,448 homeless families and individuals are now in permanent housing, thanks specifically to funding from Measure H since services began in July 2017. More than 2,200 of those placements took place in the past three months.

In addition, 13,524 people entered crisis, bridge and interim housing funded in whole or in part by Measure H in the first full year of implementation. That figure includes 2,179 individuals who were provided with interim housing after they were discharged from institutions such as jails or hospitals.

Measure H was passed by Los Angeles County voters in March 2017, with services beginning the following July. Between July 2017 and June 2018, thousands of people benefited directly from programs funded by the measure.

In addition to the housing placements, there was progress in other key areas, including:

* 2,842 clients were linked to new Intensive Case Management Services for permanent supportive housing, 1,317 clients received federal rental subsidies and 1,229 clients received local rental subsidies.

* More than 300 Measure H-funded outreach workers, including those assigned to 36 multidisciplinary outreach teams, are now working across the County to address the immediate needs of homeless residents and link them to programs and services.

*Countywide Benefits Entitlement Services Teams helped 6,824 disabled individuals with applications for Supplemental Security Income or Veterans Disability Benefits.

* Between December 2017 and May 2018, 972 new jobs in the homeless services delivery system have been filled across the region—an important achievement to build capacity among providers.

Supervisors Encouraged by Year-One Progress
“When voters approved Measure H, they trusted us to deliver tangible results,” said Board Chair Sheila Kuehl. “These first-year numbers are very encouraging. While we still have a lot of work ahead, providing permanent housing for 7,448 people experiencing homelessness and temporary housing for 13,524 more is a great start, and we will continue to build on it.”

“These first-year results show that the initial impact of enhanced supportive services and expanded outreach efforts, along with new interim and permanent supportive housing, will allow us to assist individuals in ending their cycle of homelessness,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

“We look forward to continuing to implement our diverse strategies to truly meet people where they are,” Barger said. “For some, that may mean connection to a job and sustainable income. For others, it may mean ongoing services through permanent supportive housing. We will not solve this problem with a one-size-fits-all approach. While our first-year accomplishments are remarkable, we have a long way to go.”

“The epidemic of homelessness is still a crisis, but we are making noticeable progress,” said Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “Mobile showers, criminal expungement, and most importantly, building affordable housing is essential for restoring dignity, self-confidence, and placing our most vulnerable residents into sustainable housing. Thank you to L.A. County voters for supporting Measure H to fund these critical services for those suffering from homelessness, and to help prevent homelessness before it begins.”

“We saw a four percent decline in homelessness this year—something that never would have happened without Measure H,” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said. “Thanks to this ongoing investment, we are housing more people than ever before, and are still ramping up our compassionate and innovative services to help our most vulnerable neighbors live a life of dignity and purpose.”

“We are just one year into our ambitious effort to address homelessness but these numbers show that our strategies are the right ones and we are beginning to make progress,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, who co-authored the motion to put Measure H on the ballot. “Not only are we helping tens of thousands of people find homes and housing, we are connecting thousands more with the mental health care, addiction treatment, and social services they need to begin putting their lives back together.”

Through the voter-approved quarter-cent sales tax, Measure H is expected to generate $355 million a year for 10 years in funding dedicated to fighting homelessness. The five-year goal is to provide permanent housing for 45,000 families and individuals while preventing homelessness for 30,000 others.

“The Year One numbers demonstrate meaningful progress across all dimensions of the County’s commitment to combat and prevent homelessness and indicate that we are on track to meet those five-year goals,” said Phil Ansell, director of the County Homeless Initiative.

To read the full Homeless Initiative Quarterly Report, [click here].