The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) submitted an application to the federal government on September 12 for $104,949,390 million for projects to provide housing and services to L.A.’s homeless population, including almost $5 million specifically for transitional housing for youth.
In June, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a new notice of funding availability for homeless services projects through the 2016 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition. A Continuum of Care is “a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals,” according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Los Angeles’ CoC is coordinated by LAHSA.
LAHSA’s application reflected almost $105 million for 207 projects that would provide additional beds and living units for the 46,874 homeless people living in the county, according to the 2016 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. The application also includes funding for support services such as the coordinated entry system and the homeless management integration system, which are data management tools emphasized by the city and county’s joint homeless initiative.
The projects reflected in the Los Angeles application went through a selection process earlier in the summer, through which LAHSA prioritized the projects and organizations that would be included in the final application to HUD.
According to an announcement from LAHSA, the final application reflects potential funding for 21 youth-specific transitional housing projects, in addition to other projects and programs that serve multiple populations.