To provide solution in the growing crisis of homelessness in the area, Los Angeles County supervisors have decided to allot up to $100 million a year to have funds in constructing and maintaining affordable housing.
According to latimes.com [Los Angeles Times], the supervisors have voted unanimously on Tuesday. The decision was pushed by anti- poverty advocates, non- profit housing developers and business leaders and they got concerned about the housing prices in the area.
Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Mark Ridley-Thomas suggested to start the housing fund next year with $20 million until it piles up to $100 million in the next five years. However, supervisor Don Knabe said that this proposal might not be successful for it might cause big spending requirements for the next five years such as federal requirements for reform in county jails.
Knabe suggested another alternative. He said that the county can set aside 20 percent of the left over funds every year which can amount to $28 million a year for the next five years. The other supervisors have agreed that they will look into Knabe's proposal.
Kuehl said "This is not the be-all and end-all of our approach to housing and homelessness. The action is a way of trying to build for a future where people will be able to afford their housing and therefore will not lose it and become homeless."
In a report by ladowntownnews.com, Kuehl also said that "The remedy for homelessness is homes. We need to prevent families from falling into homelessness by providing affordable workforce housing and we need to provide rapid avenues back to permanent housing for those who do fall into it."
The fund that will be gathered will go to short- term and long- term affordable housing plans. When the proposal has been approved Kuehl hopes to have a detailed plan of the proposal for the next five months.
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