Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to restore nearly $9.8 million in funding for Transitional Age Youth and key homelessness prevention programs. The funding reverses cuts proposed in the Chief Executive Office’s April 1 report on the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Homeless Initiative Funding Recommendations.
The motion reinstates $5.6 million in funding for programs serving Transitional Age Youth—young people aged 16 to 25 who are at heightened risk of homelessness—along with partial restoration of critical prevention services and legal and financial support programs. Funding will be drawn from redirected allocations within the Public Defender’s Office, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), and the Department of Health Services.
“This restoration is about protecting our most vulnerable youth and ensuring we don’t let up on the progress we’ve made to prevent homelessness before it begins,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “We’re sending a clear message that we need to keep these safety nets strong, especially for our young adults trying to gain stability and independence.”
“Our young people transitioning out of the County’s foster care system—which is the largest in the nation—are one of the most vulnerable populations to experience poverty that results in them becoming unhoused. Ensuring funding is in place for the County’s Transitional Age Youth is a necessary investment in our fight to end the homelessness crisis,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District.
The motion also directs the Chief Executive Office to explore future options for sustaining these programs as part of the County’s regular and supplemental budget processes, including funding opportunities through the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency.