Supporting Measure A: A Stable Funding Source for Housing Justice

Liberty Hill is in support of Measure A, which will appear on the November ballot across LA County, as the Homelessness Services and Affordable Housing Ordinance.

The measure would bring in crucial and ongoing funds to support homeless services and affordable housing throughout the County by implementing a half-cent sales tax replacing the existing quarter-cent Measure H sales tax approved by voters in 2016. This tax does not apply to groceries, gas, medication, EBT purchases, rent, diapers, or feminine hygiene products.

Measure H has been vital in raising funds for homeless services since it took effect in 2017, but it is set to expire in 2027. If it is not replaced, service providers and affordable housing agencies would face a massive funding gap, jeopardizing hard-won progress in stabilizing the number of Angelenos experiencing homelessness. Projections show that if these funds are lost, the County could see a 25% increase in an already significant homeless population.

Measure A incorporates several lessons learned from Measure H. One of the key lessons is that Measure H did not allow for adequate investment in homelessness prevention services, with only 3.4% of funds going to prevention. Measure A would quintuple this investment, while also providing accountability by ensuring that funds only go to solutions that successfully show they are reducing homelessness and increasing the number of affordable housing units in LA County. All of this would be achieved while also providing a living wage for the service providers and union workers building affordable housing.

From now until election day, the campaign needs hundreds of volunteers to help talk to voters about this critical measure. If you’re looking for a place to donate your time, this is a worthy cause.

Learn more about the Housing & Economic Justice work at Liberty Hill.