How much is being spent on homelessness in LA?

In LA County, the FY 2024-25 budget for the Homeless Initiative is $672.3 million. Funding comes from voter-approved tax revenue, county funds, and state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant dollars.

The FY 2025-26 approved spending plan is even larger, with $908 million approved. The plan includes:

• $535.4 million allocated to Measure A Comprehensive Homelessness Services which include initiatives in prevention, affordable housing, mental health and substance use support, and relocation from encampments to permanent housing. 
• $96.4 million allocated to the Local Solutions Fund to support evidence-based co-investment solutions. 
• $10.6 million to the Homelessness Solutions Innovations fund to support new projects. 
• An additional $160 million allocated to support the Pathway Home encampment clearing program. 

$13.4 million to support data, research and accountability.

In the City of Los Angeles, the FY 2025-26 budget includes about $952 million in combined city funds, state and federal grants, and voter-approved taxes or bonds in order to address homelessness in the city.

• This figure excludes $29.1 million for Inside Safe, a program that brings people indoors from encampments once housing is identified. This fell short of the requested $46 million, reflecting broader budget constraints due to the city’s over $1 billion deficit. 

This year’s budgets include a number of budget shortfalls, including in rent subsidies and drop-in homelessness services. Similar reductions are expected to come, as tax revenue falls and service provision costs increase, and fears of state and federal funding pullbacks are making experts worry that recent wins in decreasing the numbers of people experiencing homelessness are under threat. New Measure A funding is easing the situation but concerns about current and future budget shortfalls remain.