Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing congressional scrutiny over how federal homelessness funds were handled by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, or LAHSA. The House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee has asked Bass to testify at a public hearing on Sept. 15 and to provide documents and communications related to the issue.
The committee says it is investigating possible waste, fraud and abuse in LAHSA’s distribution of federal homeless aid to nonprofit groups. It said LAHSA has received more than $1 billion in federal funding since 2021, including about $220 million in 2024. The panel also said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s watchdog has raised concerns about LAHSA’s financial management, internal controls and conflict-of-interest safeguards.
LAHSA is a joint city-county agency created by Los Angeles city and Los Angeles County, which means it is not run like a standard city department. Still, Bass sits on the agency’s decision-making structure, and the city helps fund much of its budget, which is why congressional investigators are focusing on her role and the city’s oversight.
The hearing comes as questions grow over whether LAHSA’s structure and supervision are adequate for the amount of federal money it handles. The congressional investigation is ongoing, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
