In 2016, voters in the City of Los Angeles overwhelmingly passed Prop HHH, a bond measure to raise $1.2 billion towards creating 10,000 units of supportive housing, as well as service centers for the homeless.
A little over two years later, critics say that too few housing units have been built and too much of Prop HHH money already tapped. In April, the LA Times reported that the city had allocated two-thirds of the money towards half the number of units that the Prop was meant to create.
Today, LA City Controller Ron Galperin released his audit of Proposition HHH, which pointed to high costs and stretched out timelines. While funds have been authorized by HHH, so far there hasn’t been a single bond-funded unit opened. Part of the diagnosis includes rising construction costs, which have been on the up and up ever since Prop HHH was passed. In his audit, Galperin recommended that the city focus on reducing costs, focus on building facilities to address “immediate needs,” to “streamline the permitting process” within the City and to assign one City deparmnet with the task of being responsible for HHH.
We talk to City Controller Ron Galperin about his audit’s findings, as well as housing and homeless advocates about their reactions.
Guests:
Ron Galperin, LA City Controller; his office released a new audit on Measure HHH last night
Ben Winter, Chief Housing Officer for the L.A. City Mayor’s Office
Pete White, founder and executive director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, a community organization that works on anti-poverty issues
Lee Raagas, chief executive officer of the Skid Row Housing Trust, a permanent supportive housing provider that develops real estate and provides services for the homeless population