By JOSE HERRERA
LOS ANGELES — The City Council moved forward Friday on plans to begin a “master leasing” program in the city — picking up an approach already in use by LA County to expand the number of available units for unhoused residents.
“Master leasing is the securing of all or part of an apartment building on a long-term lease, then subleasing the units to unhoused individuals or families while providing them with supportive services,” said Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, who in December 2022 first proposed the city adopt the approach.
Friday, in a 14-0 vote, council members instructed staff to prepare contract terms and other benchmarks to implement the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s Master Leasing Program.
It will start with a pilot program in Yaroslavsky’s Fifth District, encompassing West L.A. neighborhoods or other feasible sites.
Yaroslavsky said that — with few interim housing sites for the general unhoused population available in her district — the master-leasing plan could address a big need, and do so swiftly.
She noted that, with new state funding, LA County and LAHSA launched a master-leasing initiative in November 2023 — and in about three months, they’ve been able to lease and fill 105 units, with another 530-plus units in the pipeline.
“It’s my hope that we will move with the appropriate urgency to quickly realize and get the program off the ground,” Yaroslavsky said.
The city administrative officer will be tasked with identifying funding for the pilot program, as well as for the possible expansion of the program citywide.
In addition, the city attorney and the CAO’s risk management team will examine the existing agreement between LAHSA and the county to further identify risks and liabilities, and plans to address any issues.
The city’s chief legislative analyst recently reported that any units leased and rented through the program beyond June 2027 will count toward the city’s…
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