Homeless Initiatives

Project-Based Voucher Program - Permanent Supportive Housing

The Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Project-Based Voucher (PBV) Program provides long-term rental subsidy contracts that facilitate development of housing for homeless and chronically individuals and families, targeting a variety of special needs populations such as seniors, families, transition-aged youth, veterans and the disabled.  Program partners provide on-site supportive services.  Under federal regulations, a public housing authority may choose to provide Section 8 PBV rental assistance for up to 20% of its units under the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) and an additional 10% of units can be used to house the homeless.  The Housing Authority selects projects for PBV through a competitive Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) issued jointly with the Housing + Community Investment Department of the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Health Departments as the Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSHP).  The Housing Authority currently has 209 PSHP PBV projects online or in development, consisting of 9,827 units.  These totals include 1,353 PBVs HACLA has committed to 21 Project Homekey sites.  Project Homekey is a statewide effort to rapidly sustain and expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness and impacted by COVID-19. In 2023, HACLA received an award of 377 Stability vouchers from HUD.  HACLA has chosen to project-base this allocation.  The addition of the Stability vouchers increases the total number of PSHP units to 10,204.

To learn more about PBV Program and the properties supported with project-based vouchers, please click here. 

HUD-VASH Program

VASH stands for Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Housing.  The HUD-VASH Program is a partnership that was developed by Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA to provide permanent housing and supportive services to homeless and chronically homeless veterans.  The HACLA partners with the West L.A. Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).  The HUD-VASH goal is to combine Section 8 rental assistance vouchers with case management and clinical services provided by the VA at its medical centers to enable homeless and chronically homeless veterans and their families to re-integrate in the community, remain in stable housing, and lead healthy, productive lives. In 2023, HACLA was awarded 250 new HUD-VASH vouchers, bringing the City’s total allocation of these units focused on housing homeless and chronically homeless veterans to 4,865.

Waiting List Limited Preference: Homeless Veterans Initiative/ LAUSD Joint Program

S8 increased the Waiting List Limited Preference for Homeless by 500 vouchers to support the Homeless Veterans Initiative which targeted homeless veterans who were not VA healthcare eligible, a population that had not been assisted. HACLA also works with the Los Angeles Unified School District to identify families in the school system who are homeless. HACLA’s non-profit and public agency partners provided supportive services which enabled the veterans to maintain independent living and remain successfully housed.

Continuum of Care Program  

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, formerly called the Shelter Plus Care Program, was created under the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act and is designed to provide permanent housing with supportive services to chronically homeless persons with disabilities.  Shelter Plus Care grants require a supportive services match from the program partner. The grants provide for a variety of rental housing components:  Tenant-Based (TRA), Sponsor-Based (SRA) and Project-Based (PBA) assistance. The targeted disabilities for the program are mental illness, substance abuse or HIV/AIDS.  The HACLA has participated in the CoC (Shelter Plus Care) program since 1992 and has a current allocation of 4,240 units with 22 partner agencies.

Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Program

The legacy Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Program was created under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. The Section 8 rental assistance provided under this program is designed to bring more SRO units into the local housing supply to assist homeless persons into permanent housing. HUD’s strategy is to convert existing housing, a rundown hotel, or even an abandoned building into safe and decent housing. The rental subsidy in the Moderate Rehabilitation SRO Program is attached to the building or unit as Project-Based rental assistance.  The HACLA currently has an allocation of 974 SRO Moderate Rehabilitation units with five non-profit developers.

Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program 

HUD awarded HACLA 3,365 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 (Public Law No. 117-2).  These vouchers are to assist individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness; at risk of experiencing homelessness; fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault stalking, or human trafficking; or were recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability. HACLA receives referrals for the program from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) as prioritized by the Coordinated Entry System (CES). It is likely that most people referred for this resource are already connected to CES and will be provided housing support services.

HACLA Homeless Initiative Totals

Moving On Program

HACLA has made it possible for formerly homeless residents in the Continuum of Care program who have stabilized their lives and no longer need the level of supportive services provided by that program to transfer to the Housing Choice Voucher program. This provides people with maximum independence and mobility, and frees our highest-impact, highest-service provision units for chronically homeless individuals who need them. This innovative program has assisted more than 500 formerly chronically homeless individuals to reintegrate into the community.

Home For Good

Home For Good is L.A.’s plan to end veteran and chronic homelessness. The Home For Good Funders Collaborative aligns public and private, City and County resources in a seamless NOFA process that supports shared goals, timing of grants and a continuum of funding to extend the reach of all partners working to end homelessness. HACLA has aligned vouchers from the Tenant Based Supportive Housing program, Permanent Supportive Housing PBV program, Homeless Veterans Initiative and Moving On program with the Funders Collaborative. The Home For Good Coordinated Entry System (CES) focuses outreach and housing navigation assistance to LA’s most vulnerable homeless, matching them for prioritized access to available PSH units. The Home For Good Standards of Excellence are a community-driven set of standards and best practices that have been adopted to enrich the provision of supportive services and outreach for the homeless. HACLA performs a valued leadership role in each of these core Home For Good initiatives.

Homeless Incentive Program (HIP)

Funded by Los Angeles County Measure H revenue, the Homeless Incentive Program offers landlords incentives to rent their units to clients from HACLA’s tenant based homeless programs. Funds are available to hold units for homeless applicants, pay for their security deposits and furnishings, and provide a damage mitigation fund for landlords. HACLA has housed over 1100 homeless household through use of these funds.

Updated: 09/27/2023