Comments
OP ED - On April 28, 2026, the Office of Mayor Karen Bass presented to the City Budget and Finance Committee, an overview of the proposed budget for fiscal Year 2026-27 totaling $14.85B, and a total cumulative reserve of 8.4%.
The General Fund includes over $8.5B, and the Special Funds includes approximately $6.3B.
“The Reserve Fund: increased by 5.7%, representing nearly $500M in available funding, while the City’s Financial Stability: Cumulative reserves exceed 8%...” The City started this fiscal year (2025-26) with $14.10B, then increased by 5.3% to the proposed $14.85B, stated the Mayor’s Overview.
In addition, one of the many allocations that intrigued me of the overview was the Homelessness Budget Allocation totaling $788M. The Homelessness Budget included New Strategies: First, the Mayor’s Office refined the Homelessness Schedule, “that excludes items not directly supporting housing or services; these remain funded in other Budget Sections;”
Secondly, for the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) Stability: “Budget remains stable at $52M with minor adjustments to Safe Parking Ramp Down and adds Data Team).” LAHSA’s adopted Budget in FY 2025-26 was $50.65M, FY 2025-26, LA City White Book: Homeless Budget, P. 1016.
Thirdly, “the Alliance County Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) ending in FY 2026-27; Budget assumes recoup of General Fund dollars that have cash-flowed prior and current years of the agreement,” per Mayor Office’s Overview. The third statement above requires research in the Homeless Budget; however, the next two paragraphs might shed some light on the topic:
“On June 14, 2022, the District Court of Central District of California approved a Settlement Agreement (settlement) between the City of Los Angeles and the LA Alliance for Human Rights. Under the Settlement, the City agreed to create 12,915 new interim or permanent housing units or other interventions by June 13, 2027, to accommodate 60 percent of individuals identified as shelter-appropriate within the City, based on the 2022 homeless count/Point in Time Count”, according to FY 2025-26, LA City White Book: Homeless Budget, P. 1013.
“For 2025-26, the investment toward complying with the settlement may be seen in the table below and where appropriate, in the departmental and non-departmental sections that follow [in the Homeless Budget, p.1013-1040].
LAHSA’s function is threefold: First is a joint Powers Authority created and designated by the City and County of Los Angeles to act on behalf of both entities to address homelessness; secondly, is a direct administrator of public-funded homeless programs throughout the Los Angeles region; and thirdly, it advises and participates in the framing of major public programs that affect people experiencing homelessness, according to the description on homeless-related expenditures.
In fiscal year 2025-26 Adopted Budget, Street Strategies was in operation under LAHSA with a City allocation of $16.18M. Program provided street-based homelessness strategies focusing on outreach and engagement, expanding hygiene, sanitation, and storage programs for people living in the streets. Access and Navigation Centers, and storage programs continued to provide critical services to unsheltered residents. Centers help them connect to supportive services and housing resources, including the Coordinated Entry System. Also, Navigation Centers include mobile showers, involuntary and voluntary storage, according FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget, LA City White Book: Homeless Budget, Page 1016.
From fiscal year 2025-26, the total homeless budget was allocated Approx. $953.31M: The General Fund provided Approx. $350.45M and Special Funds Approx. $602.87M. In fiscal year 2024-25, the total homeless budget was allocated Approx. $951.08M: The General Fund provided $Approx. $337.38M and Special Funds Approx. $613.70M. There was a change however from the prior fiscal year (2024-2025) to this ending fiscal year (2025-2026), where the General Fund increased the City budget by $13.07M and Special Funds decreased its funds by (10.83M). Resulting in $2.24M increase for this year 2026, according FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget, LA City White Book: Homeless Budget, Page 1013.
In summary, “there was an 18% homelessness reduction this fiscal year [2025-26]. Homelessness was impacted by the ongoing initiatives, including Inside Safe”, according to the 26-0600_misc_Mayor_04-28-26.pdf.
(Connie Acosta is writing as an individual, a board member of the Los Angeles City Neighborhood Council System, board member of the LA City N.C. Budget Advocates, and the treasurer of a neighborhood council.)
