LA County Proposes Deep Cuts to Homeless Programs in 2026

Proposed funding cuts to outreach, prevention, and job training risk reversing recent progress as county leaders weigh difficult budget choices.

Los Angeles County is preparing to finalize a budget that would significantly reduce funding for homelessness programs beginning July 2026. These proposed cuts come at a moment when thousands of residents are still struggling to stay housed amid high rents, job instability, and rising living costs. Outreach teams, prevention services, job training programs, and mobile services that connect people to care are all at risk. Decisions made in the coming weeks by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will shape whether recent progress is sustained—or undone.

County officials project a homelessness budget shortfall of more than $300 million for the next fiscal year. According to reporting by LAist and CalMatters, the gap is driven by three factors: lower-than-expected revenue from Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax dedicated to homelessness services; the expiration of temporary state and federal grants; and rising operating costs for shelter facilities.

To close the gap, the County’s proposed budget includes approximately $219 million in reductions to homelessness-related programs. While the stated goal is to preserve funding for existing shelter beds, the plan would significantly scale back or eliminate programs that prevent people from becoming homeless or help them exit homelessness more quickly.

Community Impact
Service providers warn that cutting prevention, outreach, and employment programs risks increasing long-term costs and human harm. Street outreach staff would be reduced by roughly half, limiting the County’s ability to connect unsheltered residents to shelter, healthcare, and mental health services. County-funded homelessness prevention would be eliminated entirely, removing a last line of defense for families facing eviction.
Job training initiatives such as LA: RISE, which partners with employers to help people experiencing homelessness reenter the workforce, would see deep cuts. Mobile shower programs, legal clinics, Safe Parking sites, and housing navigation services would also lose funding. For workers, students, and small businesses, these reductions can translate into greater instability in neighborhoods and fewer pathways for people to regain self-sufficiency.

We respectfully urge the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to:

1. Reevaluate proposed cuts to prevention, outreach, and job training programs with demonstrated outcomes.

2. Identify bridge funding or phased reductions to avoid abrupt service disruptions in fiscal year 2026.

3. Require transparent public reporting on how budget tradeoffs affect homelessness outcomes.

4. Explore additional state, regional, or voter-approved revenue options before eliminating core services.

Why Public Support Matters
Budget decisions of this scale demand public oversight. Community input helps ensure that fiscal responsibility does not come at the expense of effective, evidence-based programs. Signatures signal that residents expect transparency, accountability, and long-term thinking from their local government.

We invite residents, workers, and business owners across Los Angeles County to sign this petition, share it with their networks, and stay engaged as the budget process moves forward. Respectful civic participation can help protect programs that support stability, dignity, and opportunity for our entire community.

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