High Rates of Homelessness Persist Despite Interim Shelter Programs in L.A. County

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:08:00 +0200

Los Angeles County's interim housing programs, designed to temporarily shelter and stabilize people experiencing homelessness, are struggling to prevent residents from returning to the streets. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), nearly 59% of individuals exiting interim housing leave for the streets or unknown destinations, far exceeding the agency's 30% target. Cases like Amanda Ponce, who was evicted from a tiny home village for a minor altercation, illustrate the challenges faced by residents with health issues, substance use, or trauma histories. Nonprofit operators like Volunteers of America (VOA) manage many of these sites, but they often lack the resources, such as on-site mental health specialists, to adequately support residents. LAHSA has investigated these high exit rates and introduced stricter oversight for certain providers, which led to a temporary drop in removals, but sustaining these measures remains difficult due to limited staffing and