The following is a press release from Supervisor Horvath’s Office. Image: Horvath and Barger take part in the annual homeless count in 2025.
Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger to reform and better integrate mental health care within the County’s homeless services system, with a focus on expanding field-based care for people experiencing homelessness with serious mental illness. (PDF)
“For too long, people living on our streets with serious mental illness have been failed by disconnected systems that expect them to find their way to care — instead of meeting them where they are,” said Horvath. “This motion begins to change that. By expanding field-based services, strengthening coordination between our Departments of Mental Health and Homeless Services and Housing, and building in accountability for outcomes, we are building a system that centers the people who need our help the most.”
As homelessness continues to impact all of our communities, so does the need for accessible, responsive mental health services. Nearly 16,000 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County are living with serious mental illness, many of whom are unsheltered.
“For too many people living on our streets, untreated mental health conditions are the root cause keeping them there,” said Barger. “Housing, shelter, and outreach are all essential—but on their own, they are not enough. Mental health care shouldn’t come after housing. In many cases, it’s what makes housing possible in the first place. This motion will help us better align our mental health and homeless services so we can meet people where they are and provide the coordinated, compassionate care they need to truly stabilize their lives.”
This motion includes a wide-ranging set of directives aimed at transforming how mental health care is delivered to people experiencing homelessness—with the goal of meeting people where they are and making it easier for the public and providers to connect individuals to care. The motion includes:
- Expanding street-based mental health services to reach people where they are, including on sidewalks, in encampments, and in shelters
- Breaking down silos between County departments to better coordinate care and housing services
- Streamlining referral pathways and coordination to connect people experiencing homelessness to mental health care
- Improving training and support for staff working directly with people experiencing homelessness
- Improving data sharing among departments and service providers
- Strengthening accountability to ensure people receive timely, appropriate care
The motion also requires ongoing reporting to the Board on implementation progress, including updates within 90 days and regular reporting thereafter.
This is part of Supervisor Horvath’s vision for a more coordinated, effective, and accountable homeless services system, now led by the Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
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