Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, issued the following statement after the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report that found that the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) failed to utilize $3.5 million in federal homeless assistance funds that later expired and continues to struggle with issues related to homeless provider capacity and oversight.

“When over 66,000 people are experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, it is wholly unacceptable for a single dollar of federal homeless relief to go unspent,” said Chairwoman Waters. “While for years I have been critical of LAHSA’s ability to manage the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, I am deeply disappointed that the HUD Office of Inspector General found that the agency failed to spend $3.5 million in federal funds that later expired. Although this amount might seem insignificant compared to the amount of federal funding LAHSA receives on an annual basis, including $151 million in 2021, our community simply cannot afford to waste any money it receives to address this crisis. In my role as Chairwoman of the Committee on Financial Services, I have fought down to the penny for additional funding to help end homelessness, including securing $5 billion in the American Rescue Plan to provide housing vouchers to people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. In light of these findings, I will continue to work to hold LAHSA accountable to our community to ensure we have a homeless system that actually meets the needs of our neighbors who have been forced to live in shelters, on streets, and in cars or tents. This week, my Committee will be holding a hearing that will review how local homeless systems are serving families in need and the ongoing challenges that limit the ability of homeless service providers from delivering assistance. At the same time, addressing our country’s homelessness crisis will remain my top priority and I will continue to fight to secure additional homeless and affordable housing resources. That is why I am working day and night to ensure that Congress passes the Build Back Better Act with the $150 billion in funding my Committee secured for affordable housing.”

On February 2, 2022, the Housing, Community Development, and Insurance Subcommittee of the House Committee on Financial Services will convene a hearing entitled, “Housing America: Addressing Challenges in Serving People Experiencing Homelessness.”

On October 21, 2021, Chairwoman Waters convened a full committee hearing entitled, “A Strong Foundation: How Housing is the Key to Building Back a Better America.”

On September 10, 2021, Chairwoman Waters convened a hearing entitled, “Protecting Renters During the Pandemic: Reviewing Reforms to Expedite Emergency Rental Assistance.”

On July 20, 2021, Chairwoman Waters convened a full committee hearing entitled, “Building Back A Better, More Equitable Housing Infrastructure for America: Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”

On June 9, 2021, Chairwoman Waters convened a full Committee hearing entitled, “Universal Vouchers: Ending Homelessness and Expanding Economic Opportunity in America.”

On April 14, 2021, Chairwoman Waters convened a Full Committee hearing entitled, “Build Back Better: Investing in Equitable and Affordable Housing Infrastructure.”

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