Federal Policy

LAHSA’s Legislative Affairs unit monitors a wide range of federal legislation and regulatory action related to homelessness spanning from affordable housing to foster youth issues to veteran issues and more. In addition, LAHSA closely tracks the federal budget process, which appropriates funding for key homelessness programs, such as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program, as well as vital programs that serve as bulwarks against homelessness, such as the Housing Choice Voucher program.

Federal Budget

The work that LAHSA and its community partners engage in could not be possible without federal appropriations. LAHSA’s Legislative Affairs unit tracks this process to monitor the resources allocated to key programs to prevent and end homelessness, so that LAHSA can best serve the individuals, families with children, and youth experiencing homelessness in the LA CoC.

Click here for an updated budget chart of specific programs which LAHSA is tracking.

Federal Activities

As the lead agency in the Los Angeles Continuum of Care, LAHSA provides local perspective to the larger issue of homelessness and uses its expertise and voice to impact decisions being made at the Federal level.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Other Federal Departments, Committees, and Agencies

Federal Legislation Related to Housing and Homelessness

Year	No.	Title	Author	Summary	Status	LAHSA Position
2019	H.R.4302	Homeless Assistance Act of 2019	Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-30)	Authorizes public housing agencies to share data regarding individuals experiencing homelessness with the lead entity in a Continuum of Care.	In House Committee	Support
2019	H.R. 2016	West LA Armory	Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-33)	Modifies the authorized uses for the Veterans’ Administration Reservation of West Los Angeles to include meeting the needs of people experiencing homelessness.	In House Committee	Support
2019	H.R. 1978/S. 923	Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act	Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-33)/Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA)	Authorizes $750 million in grants annually for the next five years to provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.	In House Committee	Support
2019	H.R. 1856	Ending Homelessness Act of 2019	Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43)	Would invest more than $13 billion over five years to address the affordable housing shortage and combat homelessness. Would permanently authorize the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH).	In House Committee	Support
2018	H.R. 5045	STOP Homelessness Act of 2018	Rep. Nanette Barragan (CA-44)	Would create an option for taxpayers to make a voluntary donation on their tax return to support efforts to end homelessness.	In House Committee	Support
2017	H.R. 1661	Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2017	Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26)	Strengthens and renames the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program.	In House Committee	Support