Election 2024: How will the results impact homelessness?

Election Day 2024 has come and gone. Homelessness was on the ballot this year in Los Angeles County and throughout California. Here's what the voters decided.

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MEASURE A

Los Angeles County voters passed Measure A, which will increase the current quarter-cent sales tax under Measure H into a half-cent tax, raising an estimated $1.1 billion per year for homeless services and affordable housing development.

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‍We say: While raising more money will provide the resources needed to support our unhoused neighbors, we believe new approaches are critical. Focusing on prevention, accountability, and technology will be key here. Temporary fixes don’t create sustainable solutions for homelessness, but comprehensive community services can—not only substance abuse treatment and mental health services, but also job training and financial education.

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To increase transparency and efficacy, local governments should partner with nonprofits and community organizations to implement services and encourage citizen involvement. Long term, to truly make a difference, we need scalable, innovative solutions that are based on data-driven strategies, and faster service deployment. Measure A will be most effective if it helps enable that outcome.

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PROPOSITION 5

California voters rejected Proposition 5, which would have made it easier to raise property taxes, by lowering the approval threshold for housing- and infrastructure-related bonds from 67% to 55%.

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‍We say: Prop 5 would allow bond measures to sidestep the two-thirds approval that most property taxes and many other taxes in California would otherwise require—while still ultimately raising property taxes. California voters have made it clear that they want to maintain the current high threshold, giving citizens the most control over how their taxes are used.

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PROPOSITION 33

California voters rejected Proposition 33, which would have allowed cities and counties to control rents on any type of housing, including apartments, condos, and single-family homes.

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‍We say: This measure goes to the heart of the tension between affordable rents and incentives for developers to develop new housing inventory. Regardless, hopefully the rejection of Prop 33 will encourage developers to build new residential units, increasing overall supply. LA County needs more housing, not less, and that will drive greater affordability. 

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PROPOSITION 34

California voters passed Proposition 34, which would restrict how healthcare providers can spend revenue from a federal program that allows them to purchase prescription drugs at a discount, then charge insurers market rate and use the difference to expand health services to disadvantaged groups.

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‍We say: According to Capitol Weekly, this measure was aimed solely at Michael Weinstein, head of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). Prop 34 will prevent Weinstein from using those AHF profits for non-healthcare related items.

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CITY COUNCIL RACES

District 2

In District 2, Adrin Nazarian defeated Jillian Burgos to replace the retiring Paul Krekorian.

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District 10

Incumbent Heather Hutt fended off a challenge from Grace Yoo to retain her seat in District 10.

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District 14

Ysabel Jurado defeated disgraced incumbent Kevin de León for the District 14 seat.

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