Measure A passes, marking a pivotal step toward addressing L.A.'s housing crisis

Los Angeles County voters have approved Measure A in a significant victory for addressing homelessness and housing insecurity. The citizen-backed ballot initiative passed with 55.09% of the vote, securing a major boost in funding for essential homeless services and paving the way for the expansion of affordable housing across the region.

Over the past few years, local leaders have been working on multiple solutions to address the growing crisis of homelessness and housing insecurity. As Measure H, the county’s current funding structure for homelessness services, was set to expire, there was a pressing need to develop a more sustainable and expansive approach.

Measure A introduces a modest increase of approximately $5 per month for the average household, with the funds directed solely to discretionary spending and exempting necessities such as gas, groceries, and medication. This funding is crucial for providing immediate relief to those experiencing homelessness, while also supporting long-term solutions that will help prevent future homelessness.

Advocates, including James Suazo, Executive Director of Long Beach Forward, have hailed the measure as a transformative step for the region. “The need has escalated over time, especially with the impacts of the pandemic. We wanted something more bold—not just to maintain funding for housing, but to actually expand it and address the broader needs of those experiencing homelessness.”

 Beyond providing much-needed resources for rental assistance and mental health services, Measure A is poised to combat some of the issues around gentrification and displacement plaguing working-class communities.

“Even in Long Beach, folks feel gentrification  very viscerally,” said Suazo, “ they’re oftentimes pushed out of the city into places like Compton, the Inland Empire, or areas outside of the county.”

In an effort to foster long-term stability, Measure A also takes a proactive approach to homelessness prevention, with a focus on expanding affordable housing. "It's about building infrastructure that not only helps people remain housed but also moves more individuals off the streets and into permanent homes," said Shawn Morrissey, Vice President of Advocacy and Community Engagement for Union Station Homeless Services. "The goal is to create lasting solutions that prevent homelessness before it begins."

Morrissey said that among those receiving services at his organization, there is a  97% retention rate, which is why initiatives like Measure A can have such a lasting impact. “It’s about creating infrastructure that will help people stay housed, while also getting more people off the streets and into permanent homes,” he stated. 

The goal of Measure A is to create long-term solutions that prevent homelessness from happening in the first place. The growing threat of housing instability is not just a concern for the most vulnerable, but for a wide swath of the population, many of whom are just one financial setback away from losing everything.

“The reality is, many people are living one paycheck away from homelessness—and that shouldn’t be the case” stated Morrissey.  “If someone faces an emergency or an illness, they shouldn’t find themselves at risk of losing everything within weeks.”

By prioritizing affordable housing and comprehensive support services, the measure is helping to correct the systemic issues that have fueled housing challenges. 

Editor’s note: interviews took place prior to the election results.