LAHSA federal roles are moving to LA County, and a federal judge reviews the plan today, Oct. 27. A regional planning group called the L.A. Continuum of Care picked the county for two jobs on Oct. 13 and voted on two more on Oct. 26.
As of Oct. 27, 2026, we could not confirm the result of the Oct. 26 vote. The court review matters because a preliminary injunction that protects LAHSA’s federal access is set to expire the same day, according to LAist.
How LAHSA federal roles ended up in play
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development suspended the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority from its federal-facing duties in June. HUD cited financial mismanagement. LAHSA sued, and in August U.S. District Judge David O. Carter paused the suspension. He also ordered the Continuum of Care to run a process within 60 days to name replacements.
The duties involve about $239 million in federal funds, per LAist. They include the annual homeless count, the regional application for federal money, a database of people who use services, and the system that matches people to housing and shelter.
What the votes decided
On Oct. 13, the group voted by more than 300 to 9 to name the county’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing for the count and the federal application, as Westside Current also reported. The county was the only applicant for those two jobs.
The database and housing-matching system were different, because both the city and the county applied. Independent reviewers scored the county higher, and the group’s board recommended the county on Oct. 6. A planned Oct. 9 vote was delayed after more than 1,000 people overwhelmed the Zoom meeting.
Meanwhile, the City Council asked its attorneys to look at legal challenges while it negotiated with the county. On Oct. 23, the council voted 10-0 to support a tentative agreement on the two remaining roles. The Oct. 26 vote asked members to approve the county for them. Anyone who attends can take part, since the group has no fixed roster.
The two sides, in brief
Mayor Karen Bass and several council members said the city funds most of the region’s housing and needs a say in who moves into it. County officials said they applied for all four roles because they can work with the region’s 85 cities and many providers.
What it means for residents
Services on the ground should not change overnight. LAHSA leaders and employees have warned that a full transfer is complex and could take up to a year. LAHSA’s city agreements to run programs and contracts also continue through June 30, 2027.
The judge now decides when and how the shift happens. We will update this story when the court acts. For more on city and county decisions, see the Los Angeles and California guide.