Councilmember Raman Introduces Motion To Increase Utilization Of Time Limited Subsidies For People Experiencing Homelessness

For Immediate Release: August 28, 2024

Yesterday, Councilmember Nithya Raman introduced a motion to significantly increase the rate at which Time Limited Subsidies (TLS) are utilized to assist individuals experiencing homelessness to lease market-rate housing units. Time Limited Subsidies are a proven model for reducing homelessness, allowing individuals to move into permanent housing quickly while receiving case management services to further stabilize them. For years, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) has experienced difficulties finding available rental units and has struggled to adequately staff the TLS program to its full capacity. These challenges have resulted in slowing the pace at which individuals can move from interim housing into permanent homes, as the City’s critical but small supply of interim shelter beds continue to be occupied for too long by people who are eligible for permanent housing. Councilmember Raman’s legislation seeks to remove these barriers by developing more efficient mechanisms to permanently house individuals. 

In Fiscal Year 2023-2024, more than $194 million was invested in TLS across the City and the County, yet there was significant underspend across these programs, ranging from 25% to 60% depending on the program. According to LAHSA’s own financial records for that fiscal year, an estimated 3,000+ people could have been permanently housed using these unspent funds. 

“With Time Limited Subsidies we have a proven and well-funded tool at our disposal to navigate people off the street and into permanent housing,” said Councilmember Raman. “However, without utilizing the TLS program to its full capacity, people eligible to move into permanent housing are continuing to occupy critical interim shelter beds. If the City of Los Angeles is going to solve its homelessness crisis, we need to fundamentally re-work the system to swiftly and effectively distribute and put these subsidies into place.”

Councilmember Raman’s motion directs LAHSA, in consultation with service providers, to report back within 30 days with strategies for improved utilization and/ or reallocation for more efficient mechanisms to permanently house individuals. The legislation additionally asks LAHSA to report back to the Council on a bi-weekly basis regarding the status of TLS, rates of TLS-match participants in interim housing broken down by site, average length of time from TLS referral, to enrollment, to lease-up; current underspends in TLS, expected utilization rate by the end of the year, and exits from TLS.

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