An unhoused person sleeping on the grass in Pasadena (File Photo – Staff)
L.A. COUNTY – ColoradoBoulevard.net:
After an intensive six-month research process, the Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness (BRCH) agreed unanimously on seven key recommendations to improve the way the County and its partners help people who are experiencing homelessness.
By News Desk
On Tues, March 30, stakeholders with prominent roles in the fight against homelessness in L.A. County reacted to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness’ (BRCH) formal completion and adoption of its report on how homeless services should be governed.
“I commend the BRCH for its commitment to the very complex task of taking a hard look at how homeless organizations and systems are directed and coordinated, stated Supervisor Kathryn Barger. The recommendations proposed are pragmatic and visionary. I’m a strong supporter of giving all 88 cities in L.A. County a seat at the table. They deserve a fair opportunity to receive a greater share of Measure H dollars so they can fund housing solutions that work for their neighborhoods. The BRCH’s thoughtful and methodical review of multiple sources have come to this powerful conclusion. Thanks to its efforts, our County’s Board of Supervisors can now deliberate and take action. We can’t afford to miss this window of opportunity to create change and embrace reform.”
Reverend Andy Bales, Chief Executive Officer of Union Rescue Mission and member of the Los Angeles Homelessness Services Authority (LAHSA) Commission, provided his reaction: “The BRCH’s recommendations are informative and sorely needed. I see firsthand the urgent crisis we’re facing. Four people die each day of complications of homelessness in L.A. County. These are deaths mostly caused by overdose. While I have found LAHSA’s executive staff and commissioners to be hard-working professionals deeply committed to doing their very best…we need reform at a governance level now. What’s sorely missing is the opportunity to creatively coordinate immediate triage care, mental health support, innovative affordable housing and the creation of recovery communities. I support County officials…creatively reallocating Measure H funding to invest in coordinated life changing initiatives mentioned in the BRCH’s recommendations.”
Marcel Rodarte, Executive Director of the California Contract Cities Association, who served as a member of the BRCH also weighed in with his perspective: “Making funding available to cities with the flexibility they need to address homelessness is imperative. I cannot stress enough how much that is presently needed. Cities have housing solutions – these are thoughtful, community-informed plans. Why shouldn’t these be part of the equation that our region will support and fund to address homelessness?”
Unanimous BRCH recommendations
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will review and vote on which recommendations to enact when it convenes in the coming weeks.
> A full copy of the report and more information on BRCH is available at brch.lacounty.gov.
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