The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority announced significant improvements to the rehousing system on Aug. 1 following an internal reorganization and the first 100 days of leadership under CEO Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum.

“When I became CEO at LAHSA in late March, the first thing I noticed was they had the right goal – reduce unsheltered homelessness – and a dedicated workforce that successfully housed thousands of people every year,” Adams Kellum said. “But LAHSA was trying to move in too many directions at once and missing the clear opportunity in front of it. I knew that I needed to direct LAHSA’s tremendous talents to make a real impact on this humanitarian crisis.”

Last year, LAHSA announced an internal reorganization to reduce unsheltered homelessness. During her first 100 days, Adams Kellum reimagined and narrowed the agency’s focus in addressing homelessness, improving system efficiency, defining LAHSA’s purpose, ensuring accountability and transparency, expanding contracting and grant management, and crating more equity.

“What I’ve brought to LAHSA is a renewed focus on key areas that will significantly improve our ability to address unsheltered homelessness,” Adams Kellum said. “When our system is focused, it makes an impact. We saw veteran homelessness numbers drop when we focused on solving the problems that left them languishing on our streets. We will do the same for our unsheltered neighbors by focusing on these key areas. Our system will increase the number of people coming inside and end homelessness permanently for more people.”

During Adams Kellum’s tenure as CEO, LAHSA has been a critical partner in Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe program, helping to shelter more than 1,300 people in 19 encampments. LAHSA has collaborated with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in its declaration of a homelessness state of emergency and launch of the encampment resolution plan Pathway Home. LAHSA’s new Multi-Departmental Crisis Response Team was also launched, as well as a reimagined Winter Shelter program, which served six-times more people in 2022-23 than the previous winter.

Housing fairs were held for nearly 500 Inside Safe participants. The time to lease permanent supportive housing spaces was reduced from 120 days to 30 days. LAHSA streamlined and expedited its contracting process, executing 80% of new and renewal service provider contracts for fiscal year 2023-24 by June 30. The agency implemented an innovative process of utilizing long-term flexible resources as working capital funds to expedite payment to providers.

Adams Kellum also announced LAHSA’s new Welcome Navigation Center, a 24,000-square-foot facility that will serve as a pilot project for new interim housing. The Welcome Navigation Center will provide 41 rooms, with about 84 participants at any given time.

For information, visit lahsa.org.