Homeless Initiatives

HACLA is proud of its efforts to provide shelter and permanent affordable housing for homeless individuals and families while ensuring them access to supportive services to maintain independent living.
 
Under the leadership of President & CEO Rudolf C. Montiel, HACLA has contributed 745 project-based vouchers or operating subsidy amounting to almost $75 million to the City’s Permanent Supportive Housing, which is an initiative created by Mayor Villaraigosa with commitment from the LA Housing Department, the Community Redevelopment Agency, the Department of Water and Power, LA Homeless Services Authority and HACLA.
 
Moreover, under the leadership of Mr. Montiel HACLA has almost doubled the number of units dedicated to homeless (see the chart below).
 
 
 
  • HACLA has been a key partner in several local demonstration efforts including the Skid Row Families Demonstration Program, a joint collaboration with the County, City and Beyond Shelter to move 300 families into permanent housing.
  • HACLA has been actively involved in Project 50 which is also a collaboration of County, City departments and Skid Row Housing Trust, Common Ground to move the 50 most vulnerable homeless individuals on Skid Row into a permanent supportive housing.
  • Currently almost 10% of HACLA’s Section 8 Voucher allocation is set aside to house homeless individuals and families who are receiving case management and supportive services from 15 service providers. That’s over 4000 voucher units. 

The Housing Authority has contracted with fifteen nonprofit agencies to provide Homeless Program social services and Section 8 referrals.  To be eligible for the program, individuals or families must meet the federal definition of homeless (see below for definition) and be referred by one of the contracted agencies. Applications received from the agencies are reviewed for Section 8 eligibility. If the applicant qualifies, he/she will be issued a voucher to begin searching for a rental unit.

Federal definition of homeless is an individual or family who:

  • lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and
  • has a primary nighttime residence that is:
    • A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare/voucher hotels, congregate shelters, or  transitional housing designed for homeless persons); or  
    • An institution that provides a temporary residence for persons intended to be institutionalized; or
    • A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (street, park, hallway, freeway underpass.)
2007 HUD Annual Report on Homelessness indicates that, “Last year, nearly 32,000 fewer persons lived on the nation’s streets and in emergency shelters.” The entire Los Angeles County (which includes LA City) shows that homelessness has been reduced by 35%. Under the Mayor's leadership and working collaboratively with a number of partners, HACLA has been an integral player and leader in a number of homeless initiatives,, all of which have contributed to the significant decrease in the number of homeless individuals and families in our City.

Since it first joined with non-profit community-based organizations and government agencies to create a Section 8 Homeless Program in 1991, HACLA has sought ways to expand the program and is stronger than ever in its commitment to assist the homeless in Los Angeles.


UPDATES:
HUD funded 10,000 rental assistance vouchers nationwide to house homeless veterans and their families under the 2008 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. For more information, please click here to view the Power Point presentation.
 
Your local Department of Public and Social Services (DPSS) has many different programs which may be able to help you. Click here to download the document listing their programs. If you think you qualify for  them, want to apply for assistance, or would like more information, please contact your local DPSS office.



To learn more about oragnizations assisting the homeless, click on these links:  
 
 
 

National Alliance to End Homelessness

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

National Coalition for the Homeless

National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty   

National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness