LAHSA CEO Resigns Amid County Shift to New Agency

Va Lecia Adams Kellum resigned as CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), shortly after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to create a new county agency to oversee homelessness services, effectively stripping LAHSA of its funding and key responsibilities. Adams Kellum, who led LAHSA since March 2023, cited the shift in duties as the right moment for her departure in her resignation letter. While she highlighted some successes during her tenure, including a decrease in street homelessness, her leadership faced scrutiny due to ongoing issues with the agency's financial management and service delivery. The county's decision to move resources to a new department was supported by recommendations from the 2020 Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness, which aimed to enhance accountability. Critics have pointed to persistent problems within LAHSA, including a lack of transparency and oversight, prompting the need for reform. Adams Kellum will remain for a 120-day transition period to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.