The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $45.6 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which included substantial cuts to programs aimed at combating homelessness. Despite the county facing a severe and worsening homelessness crisis, with over 75,000 people unhoused, the budget slashed tens of millions of dollars from vital services.
The approved budget eliminates over 700 county positions related to homeless services, leading to the closure of shelters and reductions in outreach programs. Specifically, $30.2 million was cut from homeless prevention efforts, $11.6 million from street outreach, and $4.5 million from services targeting families at risk of homelessness. These reductions will hinder the county’s ability to provide critical resources like housing vouchers, mental health support, and substance abuse treatment to those in need.
Advocates for the homeless and social workers expressed outrage over the cuts, arguing that they will exacerbate the crisis and push more individuals onto the streets. They pointed out that eliminating hundreds of positions will cripple the county’s capacity to respond to the growing needs of the unhoused population. Despite promises to prioritize homelessness, the budget reflects a shift away from addressing the underlying issues and towards austerity measures, potentially undermining previous investments in combating the crisis.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/04/09/vlzk-a09.html