The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, coauthored by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, to immediately establish the Antelope Valley Homelessness Consortium (AVHC), comprised of the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster, community and faith-based organizations, local providers and advocacy groups, Lancaster and Palmdale Sheriff’s stations, local school districts, and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
“There is an immediate need to increase the capacity of homeless services in a regional, holistic, and collaborative fashion in the Antelope Valley,” said Supervisor Barger. “Through robust community engagement, along with a comprehensive gap analysis, we can develop meaningful and sustainable solutions, both short-term and long-term, that positively moves us in the right direction and significantly reduces the number of homeless people in the community.”
Responding to the eminent closure of the Lancaster Community Shelter, the motion also directs the Chief Executive Officer’s Director of the Homeless Initiative to work with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and other local service providers to identify emergency shelter beds and report back to the Board of Supervisors in 7 days.
“Through local engagement and a bottom-up approach, the AVHC will develop regional strategies to bolster supportive services and housing for the homeless in the Antelope Valley,” Barger added.