LA City Council seeks strategy to phase out its homelessness emergency declaration

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a motion directing staff to lay out a transition plan for ending the city’s homelessness emergency declaration, citing a need to restore the council’s full oversight and legislative authority.

The emergency declaration, enacted in December 2022 on Mayor Karen Bass’ first day in office, granted her authority to bypass bureaucratic hurdles — allowing for no-bid contracts, fast-tracked housing approvals, and the rapid acquisition of properties to accelerate the city’s homelessness response.

But two years and a half later, some city leaders say the emergency framework may no longer be necessary – or sustainable. Councilmember Tim McOsker said in May, “we have reached a point” where the emergency itself should expire.

“We have been in this for two and a half years,” he said during a May 27 City Council meeting. “The fact that the renewal says that we have not made the right progress is itself an indictment of the emergency and our actions on the emergency.”

In May, the City Council voted to extend the homelessness emergency declaration for another 90 days, with McOsker casting the lone dissenting vote.

McOsker introduced the motion with support from Councilmembers Nithya Raman, John Lee and Ysabel Jurado. The motion argues that the Council must now reclaim its full Charter authority to craft longer-term solutions outside of emergency structures.

Lee, who seconded the motion, said in a statement Wednesday that the upcoming report will help ensure the city preserves essential services and continue building on recent progress.

“Before the city ends its homelessness emergency declaration, we need a clear understanding of what’s at stake,” Lee said. “Since the emergency was declared, the city has gained critical flexibility to open interim housing sites faster, streamline contracts, and respond more effectively on the ground.”

Lee added: “Without a thoughtful transition plan, we risk losing momentum, disrupting services, and jeopardizing housing for thousands of people experiencing homelessness. This report will help ensure we maintain essential services, preserve accountability, and continue building on the progress we’ve made.”

Some service providers echoed that concern. Rowan Vansleve, president of Hope the Mission, a major homeless service provider in the San Fernando Valley, said the report is a chance to ensure more accountability and transparency in how the city addresses homelessness.

“I think it’s really positive,” he said. “Whenever you respond to a crisis in a moment of emergency, there’s going to be some inefficiencies, there’s going to be some errors. And I think this is the next part of the evolution to getting it right.”

Asked whether he worries about the potential end of the emergency declaration, Vansleve said he’s more concerned about “a reduction in services” than disruption.

“There are still so many people languishing on our streets,” he said. “But the truth is, even if there isn’t a formal declaration of emergency, service providers like Hope will continue to address homelessness with urgency and compassion. And I know that’s true of all of the service providers, but also true of those on our City Council.”

The motion, unanimously approved Wednesday without discussion, calls for two reports within the next 60 days.

The first, due in 30 days, asks for data on how many interim housing sites and beds have been established since the emergency was declared in December 2022, a list of contracts authorized under the emergency, and an analysis of the legal and budget impacts of lifting the order.

The second report, due in 60 days, would lay out an operational transition plan, including how the city can preserve programs like Inside Safe and ensure continuity without the expedited authority the emergency declaration provides.

The council also asked for legal guidance on the city’s responsibilities in light of the county’s recent decision to create a standalone agency for homelessness services.

The city and county currently share responsibility through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, but that relationship has come under strain amid disagreements over funding, performance and governance.

The council’s vote also comes amid growing scrutiny of the city’s homelessness spending and overall accountability. A federal judge overseeing a lawsuit on the city’s homelessness response is considering whether to place its operations under a third-party receiver.

In response to mounting pressure to fix its fragmented and costly homelessness response, the City Council recently established a new Bureau of Homelessness Oversight within the Housing Department to track how billions of dollars are spent.