PPCC Library Integration Test

## Extracted Text

PPCC Glossary of Terms Related to Homelessness
• Homelessness – The situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe,
permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring
it. The term (or the alternate term “houselessness”) is often used to describe people living
unsheltered on sidewalks, in tents or camps, or in cars or RVs, who have no home or a fixed,
regular and adequate nighttime residence.
____________________________
A Bridge Home – Los Angeles program involving facilities on public property designed to provide shelter
as an alternative to encampments for people experiencing homelessness / houselessness (“PEH,” defined
below), i.e., to provide a “bridge” between street homelessness and long-term or permanent housing. An
example is the “A Bridge Home” facility in Venice (also known as the Pacific Sunset Bridge Home), which
is located in a residential neighborhood and had been controversial for several years due to ongoing
unsafe and unhealthy conditions within and outside of the facility. Councilwoman Traci Park (Council
District 11 / CD 11) has worked to ameliorate the unacceptable conditions while also supporting an
extension of the facility’s lease in order to provide much-needed interim housing / shelter (defined below).
An “A Bridge Home” facility has not been proposed for Pacific Palisades.
Affordable Housing – Widely defined as any type of housing, including rental / home ownership,
permanent / temporary, for-profit / non-profit, that costs less than 30% of a household’s pre-tax income.
More specifically defined by the City of Los Angeles Planning Dept. as “any housing unit that has a
formal covenant or other legal protection that guarantees that the housing unit can only be
occupied by someone within a set schedule of income. These units can be located in a building
that is entirely income restricted, or in a mixed-income building where only a certain percentage of
the units are restricted. The housing cost of restricted affordable units is based on the current
Area Median Income (AMI) in Los Angeles County, which in 2021 was $80,000.”
At-risk of Homelessness / Houselessness – Phrase describing people who are not yet experiencing
homelessness / houselessness (see “PEH,” defined below), but whose current economic and/or housing
situation is precarious or does not meet public health and safety standards.
Boise case – Important 2018 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Martin v. City of
Boise), holding that under the 8th Amendment to the Constitution, a city cannot enforce anti-camping
ordinances with criminal penalties if it does not have enough homeless shelter beds available for its
homeless population – although the ruling does not necessarily mean a city cannot enforce any restrictions
on camping on public property (as the City of Los Angeles has done with LAMC Sec. 41.18, defined
below). In 2019, PPCC’s letter supporting an amicus brief by Brentwood Community Council was
submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in connection with the City of Boise’s petition for review of the Ninth
Circuit’s decision, seeking clarity as to what actions by local governments to restrict camping on public
1

property may be permissible under the Constitution. Although the Supreme Court declined review in
Boise, later cases now proceeding through the judicial system may provide such clarity (see update re
Grants Pass case overruling Boise on p. 9*).
CARE / CARE+ – “Comprehensive Cleaning & Rapid Engagement” program, administered by the City
Sanitation Department; provides for cleaning or “sweeps” of encampments, in which PEH (defined below)
are asked by law enforcement to remove their tents and belongings temporarily while Sanitation workers
then sweep, power wash and remove trash and hazardous materials from the area. The sweeps are
accompanied by outreach and offers of service. Several such sweeps have taken place in CD 11.
CARE Courts / Community Assistance, Recovery & Empowerment Courts – New program, initiated
statewide by Governor Gavin Newsom and expected to be launched in Los Angeles County in December
2023 (per vote of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors), which is “aimed at helping the thousands
of Californians who are suffering mental health and substance use disorders leading to homelessness”
(Governor’s office). Briefly, the process begins with a verified petition brought by a family member, friend,
law enforcement or behavioral health worker, along with an affidavit from a licensed healthcare
professional, demonstrating that an individual is suffering from a severe mental disorder and qualifies for
the program. If qualified and accepted into the program, the individual is given a treatment plan and
assigned an advocate and legal counsel to guide them through the process (with various steps and
consequences after a year in the program, depending on status of compliance; see update on p. 9*).
Case Management – A collaborative and client-centered approach to service provision for PEH (defined
below), in which a case worker assesses the needs of the client and when appropriate, arranges,
coordinates and advocates for delivery and access to a range of programs and services to address the
individual’s needs.
CES / Coordinated Entry System – A coordinated system whereby all providers allocate housing and
services through a single process and according to a shared protocol (see “LAHSA,” defined below).
Chronic Homelessness / Houselessness – Long-lasting or recurring homelessness / houselessness,
defined by the federal government as a condition which impacts people who live with a documented
disability and have experienced not having a home for at least a year, or repeatedly over three years (see
also “Houseless / Houselessness” and “Unhoused Persons,” both defined below).
CoC / Continuum of Care – A network of agencies bound to a geographic area, which includes social
services, healthcare, shelter services and housing providers, that organize and deliver funding and support
to meet the needs of homeless / unhoused persons (defined below). LAHSA (defined below) is the lead
agency for the CoC in Los Angeles County.
Congregate Shelter – A shared living environment combining housing and services such as case
management (defined above) and employment services. People are typically separated by gender and
often sleep in an open area with others in a congregate setting. Such shelters may also have set hours of
operation and prohibitions on smoking, drugs and weapons.
Downtown Women’s Shelter – Nonprofit organization founded in 1978, described as the “only
organization in Los Angeles focused exclusively on serving and empowering women experiencing
homelessness and formerly homeless women.” Provides services such as education, counseling, meals,
job training, permanent supportive housing (defined below) and healthcare.
2

Emergency Shelter – Facility with the primary purpose of providing temporary shelter for PEH (defined
below), e.g., cold and hot weather shelters that open during extreme temperatures. Los Angeles County
periodically opens a limited number of emergency Winter Shelters (defined below) during colder months.
Fifty-One Fifty / 5150 – Number of the state Welfare & Institutions Code section that allows an adult who
is experiencing a mental health crisis to be involuntarily detained for a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization
when evaluated to be a danger to others or to himself or herself, or to be gravely disabled; often referred
to as “5150 holds.” A bill is now pending in the state legislature (SB 43) to expand the Sec. 5150 definition
of “gravely disabled” (see “Lanterman-Petris-Short Act,” defined below; see update re SB 43 on p. 9*).
Food Insecurity – Condition often experienced by PEH (defined below) of not having access to sufficient
food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet one's basic needs.
HACLA / Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles – One of the largest public housing
authorities in the U.S. Provides affordable housing and a range of services and programs for low income,
homeless / houseless, disabled, children and senior residents; administers Section 8 Housing Vouchers
(defined below) in Los Angeles as well as projects developed under Proposition HHH (defined below).
HET / Homeless Engagement Team – LAHSA (defined below) maintains and coordinates a number of
HETs in communities throughout the City and County of Los Angeles, who provide direct outreach services
to PEH (defined below). An outreach team from The People Concern (defined below) – funded by the
community and working alongside the Palisades LAPD beach detail as well as volunteers from PPTFH
(defined below) – has effectively served as an HET in Pacific Palisades for several years.
Homeless Services Delivery System – System of services that help people move from homelessness /
houselessness (defined above and below) to being housed permanently (see also “PATH Providers” and
“Transition from Homelessness,” both defined below).
Housing First – A homelessness / houselessness response philosophy that prioritizes giving people
permanent, life-long housing, without preconditions such as sobriety, participation in mandatory treatment
programs or acceptance of other services. This approach highlights the need for housing above other
contributing factors such as mental health, addiction and healthcare. Although the State of California and
many cities, including Los Angeles, originally adopted the Housing First policy as a way to end
homelessness, critics note that over the past several years homelessness has steadily increased and it is
extremely expensive to provide housing as a priority. Governor Newsom has acknowledged that
“healthcare and housing can no longer be divorced” and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has recognized
that mental health and addiction are significant factors in homelessness / houselessness which must be
addressed along with housing.
Housing Insecurity – Term used to describe the varied experiences and challenges of people who are
homeless / houseless, as well as those who are at risk of becoming so. Use of this terminology
emphasizes the complex factors that contribute to a person becoming homeless / unhoused (see
“Unhoused Persons,” defined below), including mental health issues and addiction / substance abuse as
well as job loss, rent increase, personal economic situation, poverty and lack of affordable housing.
Houseless / Houselessness – Terms sometimes used in place of “homeless” or “homelessness,” to
distinguish between persons without a house (structure providing a place for permanent nighttime
residence) and those without a home ((the personal community in which a person lives), i.e., to express
3

the view that people described as homeless / unhoused are not necessarily without homes (see also
“Unhoused Persons,” defined below).
Inside Safe Program – Mayor Bass’ signature program to clear homeless encampments by offering
motel rooms and services to unhoused Angelenos. The goal is to move everyone from motels (a type of
“Interim Housing / Shelter” or “Transitional Housing,” both defined below) into permanent housing as
quickly as possible. Although offered, mental health and/or addiction treatment is not a precondition to
being provided a motel room. The Mayor has partnered with Councllwoman Park in using Inside Safe to
successfully clear certain targeted encampments in CD 11. The City of Los Angeles has allocated $250
million to continue and expand Inside Safe over the next year. Mayor Bass has explained that it is very
expensive to acquire and provide motel rooms and housing, and that more funding, including federal and
State funds, will be needed. The Mayor has released some data on the program and is expected to release
more, as her office continues to evaluate the program’s efficacy. According to data to date, the program
has had an 83% retention rate, with about 17% of individuals placed in the program having left their motel
rooms or exiting the program entirely. These numbers are expected to fluctuate (see update re Court-
ordered audit on p. 9*).
Interim Housing / Shelter – A form of transitional or “bridge” housing that provides safe temporary
accommodation for people who have nowhere to spend the night (see also “A Bridge Home,” defined
above, and “Transitional Housing,” defined below).
LA Alliance for Human Rights lawsuit – Widely-reported case brought in federal court in 2020 by a
coalition of downtown Los Angeles businesses, residents and other groups against the City and County of
Los Angeles. The Alliance alleges that government inaction has allowed development of a dangerous
environment for businesses and residents, due to the continued, ever-expanding state of homelessness
and accompanying unhealthy and unsafe conditions in the downtown Skid Row area. The District Court
judge overseeing the case, the Hon. David O. Carter, recently approved a settlement with the City, in
which the City is to provide $3 billion to fund as many as 16,000 beds or housing units for non-mentally ill
homeless / unhoused persons in five years. A proposed settlement with the County had not been
approved as of July 2023 (see update re settlement approval and Court-ordered audit on p. 9*).
LAHSA / Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority – Regional planning body that coordinates
housing and services for homeless / unhoused persons in Los Angeles County (including in the City of Los
Angeles); lead agency in the Los Angeles CoC / Continuum of Care (defined above). Manages the CES
(defined above) for the County, and administers over $800 million annually in federal, State, County and
City funds for programs that provide shelter, housing and services to PEH (defined below). Former City
Controller Ron Galperin and others have criticized both LAHSA and HACLA (defined above) for, among
other things, mismanagement and/or prioritizing “Housing First” (defined above) over transitional shelters
and support services (see update re Court-ordered audit and other City & County audits on p. 9*).
LAMC Sec. 41.18 – The so-called “anti-camping” ordinance in Los Angeles, which bans homeless /
unhoused persons from camping overnight on public property / in the public right of way close to certain
locations such as schools, daycare centers, parks, libraries (“Sensitive Sites,” defined below) and
underpasses/overpasses. The ordinance provides a process for Councilmembers to petition the City
Council to designate sites for enforcement under Sec. 41.18 (but petitions and designations are not
preconditions for enforcement near schools and daycare centers). Individuals at all encampment sites are
offered housing and services before any enforcement takes place. Using the 41.18 process as a tool
along with the Inside Safe program, Councilwoman Park has brought petitions in Council for several sites
in CD 11 to be designated under Sec. 41.18. PPCC supports the use of Sec. 41.18 with offers of housing
4

and services. The Los Angeles City Council has directed a report by the City’s Chief Legislative Analyst
(CLA) as to Sec. 41.18 outcomes (analysis pending to date; see update re Court-ordered audit on p. 9*).
Lanterman-Petris-Short Act – State law enacted in 1967 (Welfare & Institutions Code Sec. 5000, et
seq.), providing that Californians can be held for treatment against their will only if they are deemed a
danger to themselves or others, or are determined to be gravely disabled; often referred to as “5150 Holds”
(see also “Fifty-One-Fifty / 5150,” defined above). Under the Act, law enforcement officers and mental
health professionals in California may place individuals meeting the criteria on 72-hour emergency “5150
holds.” A bill to amend the Act (SB 43) is now moving forward in the state legislature, supported by
Councilwoman Park and the City of Los Angeles. Specifically, SB 43 would expand the definition of
“gravely disabled” in the Act to mean a condition in which, as a result of a mental health disorder or severe
substance use disorder (or both), a person is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for food,
clothing, or shelter, personal safety or necessary medical care (see update re SB 43 on p. 9*).
Long-Term Housing – Defined under federal law as housing that is “sustainable, accessible,
affordable, and safe for the foreseeable future and is – (A) rented or owned by the individual; (B)
subsidized by a voucher or other program which is not time-limited and is available for as long as the
individual meets the eligibility requirements for the voucher or program; or (C) provided directly by a
program, agency, or organization and is not time-limited and is available for as long as the individual meets
the eligibility requirements for the program, agency, or organization.”
Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative – Central body for the County’s efforts to expand and
enhance services for PEH (defined below) and those at-risk of homelessness / houselessness (defined
above). The Initiative, created by the County Board of Supervisors in 2015, is part of the County’s Chief
Executive Office and is partially funded by Measure H revenues (voter-approved ¼-cent sales tax).
PATH Providers / Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness – Local public or
nonprofit organizations that receive federal PATH funds to service PEH (defined below) with serious
mental illness and to assist their transition to permanent housing. The Los Angeles County Mental Health
Department is a PATH Provider for the County (see “Transition from Homelessness,” defined below).
Note: PATH Providers are distinct from an entity named “PATH,” which is a separate nonprofit service
provider (defined below) operating in Los Angeles and other California cities.
PEH / People Experiencing Homelessness / Houselessness – Persons in a state of homelessness
or houselessness, as described above. The acronym “PEH” is often used in place of the full phrase by
officials and/or volunteers who work with homeless / unhoused persons or on homelessness issues.
Permanent Supportive Housing – Affordable, subsidized, non-time-limited housing. Participation in
services or other preconditions are not required for residents, but services such as case management
(defined above), healthcare and mental health or substance abuse support may be offered as needed.
PIT / Point-in-Time Count – Federally-mandated annual census count of PEH (defined above). The PIT
(conducted on one night / early morning) includes those who are sheltered and unsheltered. LAHSA
(defined above) oversees the count in Los Angeles; PPTFH (defined below) has managed and conducted
the count in Pacific Palisades for several years. The resulting data is used by the federal government to
allocate resources and support homelessness services. The 2023 PIT found an estimated 46,260 PEH in
the City of Los Angeles, with 6,669 homeless / unhoused persons in SPA 5 (see “SPA / Service Planning
Area,” defined below). Official numbers for each of the individual neighborhoods in the SPAs (e.g., Pacific
Palisades in SPA 5) [and for the 2024 PIT] have not been released to date.
5

PPTFH / Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness – Originally initiated in 2014 as a PPCC
committee, the PPTFH became a highly respected independent 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission
includes providing leadership and resources to manage and eliminate the destructive consequences of
homelessness in the Palisades. As of May 2023, PPTFH has restructured its model, including entering
into a new partnership arrangement with its longtime service provider The People Concern (defined
below). The organization continues to seek volunteers to engage in the important work of helping
homeless / unhoused persons in the Palisades and keeping the community safe.
Project Room Key – Collaborative, temporary effort by the State, the County and City of Los Angeles
and LAHSA (defined above), initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, to secure hotel and motel rooms for
vulnerable homeless / unhoused persons. Now ended, the project provided a way for people who did not
have a house to stay inside in order to prevent the spread of the virus. LAHSA continues to oversee the
operation of a number of former Project Room Key units to continue to provide shelter or housing.
Proposition HHH – $1.2 billion bond measure funding the development of supportive housing in Los
Angeles County; passed overwhelmingly by Los Angeles voters in 2016; projected to build 10,000 units of
Permanent Supportive Housing (defined above) in a 10-year span. Seven years later, fewer than 3,000
units have been built, at an average cost of approximately $600,000 per unit – made up of about $132,000
per unit in HHH funding, with additional financing from multiple sources required in order to meet the
expense of red tape / regulations. HACLA (defined above) periodically updates progress on HHH
construction. The program has been heavily criticized for being behind schedule and far above cost
projections.
Rapid Rehousing – A solution to homelessness / houselessness, designed to help individuals and
families to quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent housing by offering flexible, time-limited
assistance. Offered with preconditions, such as employment, income and/or sobriety; resources and
services provided are typically tailored to the unique needs of the household.
Safe Camping / Safe Sleeping – Organized sites where camping or overnight sleeping is legal /
sanctioned by local government; security and supportive services are often provided. Temporary Safe
Camping / Safe Sleeping / shelter sites (so-called “Safe Sleep Villages”) have been located in a few
downtown areas of Los Angeles, operated by a San Francisco based non-profit called Urban Alchemy.
Culver City and the City of San Diego also recently opened Safe Camping / Safe Sleeping sites. Los
Angeles City officials such as Mayor Bass and Councilwoman Park have publicly stated that they oppose
forms of Safe Camping / Safe Sleeping (e.g., sanctioned encampments) on beaches and in public parks.
Safe Parking – Program intended to provide vehicle dwellers with a safe and legal place to park
overnight; open to persons who apply and meet various criteria. Security, restrooms and access to
resources and services are offered. Safe Parking sites on the Westside are located in West LA, Sawtelle
and Culver City; a former 24/7 Safe Parking site at Westchester Park that was unsupervised, poorly
operated, unsafe and highly controversial has been discontinued (see also “Vanlords,” defined below).
Section 8 Housing Vouchers – Federal program administered by local housing authorities. HACLA
(defined above) administers the program in the City of Los Angeles. Eligible tenants receive vouchers they
can use to help pay for apartments in the private market. There is a waiting list for vouchers in Los
Angeles which is currently closed. Problems with the program have been widely reported, including
landlord rejections, unused vouchers and long wait times for vouchers o become available and/or for
individuals who have vouchers to be assigned an apartment. PPTFH (defined above) reports that housing
vouchers and housing are currently at a near standstill in Pacific Palisades and on the Westside.
6

Sensitive Sites – Sites where homeless encampments are located in the public right of way near public
parks and libraries, and that require a petition and designation by City Council before enforcement can
begin under LAMC Sec. 41.18 (defined above). Sites near schools and day care centers are deemed so
sensitive that they do not require prior designation by City Council for Sec. 41.18 enforcement.
Service Provider – Defined under federal law as a nonprofit, nongovernmental homeless provider, such
as a homeless shelter, a homeless service or advocacy program, or coalition or other nonprofit
organization carrying out a community-based homeless or housing program that has a documented history
of effective work concerning homelessness. St. Joseph Center and The People Concern (both defined
below) are longtime service providers in CD11, the Westside and other areas in Los Angeles.
Service-Resistant – Homeless / unhoused persons who consistently refuse offers of housing / services.
SPA / Service Planning Area – Geographical area for health planning purposes. Los Angeles County is
divided into eight SPAs; Pacific Palisades is in SPA 5 (West). Each SPA has an Area Health Office/Center
that is responsible for planning public health and clinical services according to the community’s health
needs. The SPA 5 Health Center is the Simms/Mann Health and Wellness Center, 2509 Pico Boulevard,
Room 320, Santa Monica, CA 90405 (see also “PIT / Point-in-Time Count,” defined above).
State of Emergency on Homelessness – In early 2023, the County Board of Supervisors and Mayor
Bass proclaimed a local emergency on homeless for, respectively, Los Angeles County and City, which, as
explained, will in turn allow for streamlining and acceleration of contracting, procurement and hiring related
to homelessness in both jurisdictions, as well as acceleration of licensed beds in healthcare facilities,
interim housing and permanent supportive housing (defined above).
St. Joseph Center – Nonprofit organization that provides homeless services in CD 11, the Westside and
the greater Los Angeles region; the lead CES / Coordinated Entry System provider (defined above) on the
Westside for Brentwood, Culver City, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Playa del Rey, Santa Monica and Venice.
TAY / Transitional Age Youth Program – State program to prevent homelessness / houselessness,
and to secure and maintain housing for young adults aged 18 to 24 years, with priority given to those
currently or formerly in the foster care or probation systems.
The People Concern – Nonprofit organization that provides homeless services in CD 11, the Westside
and throughout Los Angeles; longtime partner of PPTFH in providing outreach, funded by the community,
in Pacific Palisades (see also “HET,” defined above). Currently under a new partnership arrangement in
which it will continue to fulfill its service contract with PPTFH and for a period of time will act as fiscal
sponsor for homeless outreach services in the Palisades.
Tiny Home Village – A form of transitional housing (defined below) in which several small (typically 8’x8’)
“houses” are built on available land along with central communal facilities such as bathrooms, laundry,
cooking, and dining areas. A number of Tiny Home Villages are located in Los Angeles, including on the
Brentwood Veterans’ Administration campus (serving homeless / unhoused vets).
Transitional Housing – Time-limited housing for homeless / unhoused individuals or families who are in
the process of moving to permanent housing; also offers supportive services to assist people shifting from
homelessness to being housed permanently.
7

Transition from Homelessness – Pathway of moving from homelessness / houselessness to recovery,
independence, and permanent housing. In Los Angeles, the County Mental Health Department – a
federally-funded PATH Provider (defined above) – provides numerous services to assist persons who have
mental illness with transitioning from homelessness to housing, including screening / diagnosis, mental
health and substance abuse treatment, rehabilitation, job training, education and housing services. The
Department’s mission as a PATH Provider is “to optimize the hope, wellbeing and life trajectory of Los
Angeles County’s most vulnerable through access to care and resources that promote not only
independence and personal recovery but also connectedness and community reintegration.”
Unhoused Persons – Term sometimes used in place of “homeless persons,” to describe people who are
without a house (structure providing a place for permanent nighttime residence) (see also “Homelessness /
Houselessness,” defined above).
Vanlords – Individuals who rent out RVs or similar vehicles (often old, dilapidated vehicles purchased
from salvage lots) as vehicle dwellings, without regard to safety or habitability. Unregulated RVs (rental or
otherwise) have been proliferating on residential streets in Venice and other locations in CD 11, frustrating
residents and causing hazardous conditions, including fires that have erupted in some RVs. The current
status of City enforcement of RV parking regulations in residential neighborhoods is confusing and
complicated; according to CD 11, lack of enforcement is a result of many factors, including: the City
Council’s failure to pass new regulations after allowing the former Municipal Code section that regulated
RVs (LAMC Sec. 85.02) to expire; insufficient LADOT staff and/or capacity to conduct enforcement;
insufficient towing and storage capacity for RVs; and lack of adequate Safe Parking sites (defined above).
Councilwoman Park has introduced several motions in City Council intended to regulate RVs (e.g., to crack
down on RV rentals by vanlords; to ban RV dwelling in certain neighborhoods; to create a pilot program to
rehouse RV dwellers).
Winter Shelters – Program operated by LAHSA (defined above), in which a limited number of shelters
are offered to PEH (defined above) on a temporary basis during colder months in Los Angeles (generally
November to March). Meals and case management services (defined above) are provided. Winter
Shelters in 2022-23 were located in areas such as downtown Los Angeles, East and South Los Angeles
and Lancaster (not in SPA 5, CD 11 or near Pacific Palisades).
Wraparound Services – Services designed to provide comprehensive, personalized support and
resources so that individuals and families are able to address the complex issues and challenges that often
accompany homelessness / houselessness and can interfere with obtaining long-term housing stability.
Prepared by PPCC At-large Rep Chris Spitz and
PPCC Officers Maryam Zar (President), Sue Kohl (VP),
Jenny Li (Treasurer) & Beth Holden Garland (Secretary)
July 30, 2023
See Updates and Additional Glossary Terms as of December 2024 on pp. 9-10, below.
8

Glossary Updates (as of December 2024):
* The U.S. Supreme Court in early 2024 accepted review of the Ninth Circuit decision in Johnson v. City
of Grants Pass (a successor case to Boise); PPCC submitted a further letter in support of BCC’s amicus
brief in Grants Pass, filed in September 2023 in support of the City of Grants Pass’ petition for review. In
June 2024, the Supreme Court overturned Boise, ruling that the anti-camping ordinance involved in Grants
Pass did not violate the 8th Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The LA City
Council in July 2024 directed the City Attorney to analyze the impacts of the Grants Pass decision on the
City’s ability to regulate camping in public spaces (analysis pending at this writing).
* The CARE Court process has now been established in LA County. For information about eligibility and
petition procedures, visit https://www.lacourt.org/care/.
* SB 43 was passed and enacted in Fall 2023 (effective January 1, 2024); the County Board of
Supervisors deferred SB 43’s implementation until January 1, 2026 (as allowed by the bill and per
recommendation of the County Dept. of Mental Health (DMH). DMH has reported that extensive work by
DMH, by the County’s partners and by local law enforcement agencies is needed to complete preparations
before SB 43 implementation can occur.
* Homeless program audits – A settlement with the County was approved in the LA Alliance for
Human Rights lawsuit in September 2023. In March 2024, Judge Carter ordered an independent,
comprehensive audit of all City homeless programs and/or initiatives involving homelessness (including
Inside Safe and LAMC 41.18) and of the City’s and LAHSA’s expenditures and use of public funds to assist
PEH (defined above); the audit is still in process (but as reported, Judge Carter has expressed anger with
the delay in reporting LAHSA data to date). Various other audits and reports related to LAHSA
operations have also recently been authorized and/or conducted to date: audits ordered by the
County Board of Supervisors (regarding procurement / implementation of new homeless counting software
and of LAHSA’s financial operations); a “focused audit” by the City Controller; and a City Council-directed
“performance evaluation” of services the City receives from LAHSA. County audit/efforts: In November
2024, the County audit of LAHSA’s operations was reported to reveal serious mismanagement and non-
accountability, including a failure to account for tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds and/or to
monitor where large amounts of cash are going. As a result, the County Board of Supervisors has called
for an analysis of creation of a County-run Dept. of Homelessness, to create more accountability and
transparency as to the use of public funds to address homelessness (analysis pending to date). City
Controller audit/efforts: In November 2024, the Los Angeles City Controller released the results of his
audit, revealing that $200 million+ in funding was wasted on unsuccessful anti-homelessness initiatives,
including the fact that 1 in 4 interim beds went unused for a period of over 5 years. While some
Councilmembers (notably, CMs Rodriguez and Lee) have expressed concern and suggested that no
further City-funding of LAHSA should occur, the City Council has continued to approve additional funding
for homeless providers/initiatives, and voters approved Measure A in November 2024 (see GLACH and
Measure A, defined below).
* Both PPCC and the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC) have called for investigation by
federal, state, county and city authorities into the mismanagement/misuse of taxpayer funds to address
homelessness in Los Angeles. See:
https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PPCC-Letter-Homeless-Funding-InvestigationsR1a.pdf
https://westsidecouncils.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WRAC-Letter-Investigate-HomelessFundingF.pdf
See Additional Glossary Terms on p. 10, following:
9

Additional Glossary Terms (not included above):
CAL-ICH / California Interagency Council on Homelessness – State council formed to oversee the
implementation of various programs in California to address homelessness statewide; the State Auditor
issued a report in April 2024, finding that the Council had not consistently tracked the billions of dollars in
spending or the outcomes of those programs.
CIRCLE – “Crisis and Incident Response through Community-led Engagement” program, operated by the
City, which deploys field teams in certain areas of the City to provide crisis intervention on a 24/7 basis (in
those Council Districts that are requested by the Councilmember, and/or in response to emergency calls to
LAPD).
GLACH / Greater Los Angeles Coalition on Homelessness – Network of 50+ homeless services
providers and supportive housing developers. See https://glach.org/. GLACH – which lobbied for passage
of Measure A (defined below) and has sought (and been provided with) additional funding from the City for
certain of its member-providers – has been criticized for alleged waste, mismanagement, non-
accountability and failure to demonstrate discernable results to date.
HMIS / Homeless Management Information System – A local information technology system,
managed in Los Angeles by LAHSA (defined above), used to collect client-level data on the provision of
housing and services to PEH. HMIS is intended to be a common system shared by all providers, to ensure
clients receive seamless support services as they move through the shelter / housing process. Various
problems with the HMIS in Los Angeles were pointed out in a 2023 United Way/RAND report on homeless
service providers.
HSC / Homeless Strategy Committee – Los Angeles City committee, led by the City Administrative
Officer (CAO), which meets periodically; reviews agreements, contracts, reports of expenditures and other
documents related to homeless strategies employed by the City and LAHSA; and at times reports to the
City Council and/or makes recommendations regarding such strategies. HSC members consist of the
CAO, the City’s Chief Legislative Analyst, the Mayor’s Chief Housing and Homelessness Officer and the
Chair of the City Council Housing and Homelessness Committee.
Measure A – Ballot measure approved by a majority of voters in November 2024, providing for a ½ cent
sales tax to fund homelessness and housing efforts in Los Angeles County, with no sunset date but with
some requirements for accountability and demonstration of results (annual independent audits, public
review by a Citizens Oversight Committee and additional accountability safeguards.
RM-IH / Roadmap Interim Housing – Program managed by LAHSA; meant to provide emergency
temporary housing to adult PEH (defined above) in the City of Los Angeles.
Additional Glossary Terms – See also Glossary on the Culver City Homeless Reporting Dashboard:
https://www.culvercity.org/Services/Housing-Homeless-Human-Services/Homeless-Reporting-Dashboard/Homeless-Dashboard-Glossary
Note: Both PPCC and WRAC have called for the City of Los Angeles to establish a clear, transparent
homeless reporting dashboard on the City’s website, mirroring the Culver City dashboard (no response to
date).
Updates prepared by Chris Spitz,
PPCC At-large Rep
December 2024
10