Earlier today, Los Angeles’ Board of Supervisors approved a $975 million spending plan that coordinates with the American Rescue Plan (ARP) approved earlier this year.
The funding for this particular spending plan represents the first phase of a $1.9 billion allocation under the ARP, with the remaining funding planned on being distributed to the County in May 2022.
Known to the county as “Strategic Pillar 1,” the focus for this initial spending plan revolves around programs that benefit residents, businesses and communities rather than addressing the County’s revenue losses — which will be looked at in the second phase.
In a press release, the County mentioned that the first phase is intended to focus on issues such as homelessness, poverty, immigration, small businesses, justice-involved individuals and survivors of trauma.
“While this is a welcome source of funding, we will need to make continued investments in areas across the public sector to ensure that communities hardest hit by the pandemic can equitably recover,” Supervisor Hilda Solis said in a statement.
The $975 million provided in Phase One is being dispersed in five particular focuses. The budget’s specific highlights, according to the County, include:
- More than $468 million for housing and related services for people experiencing homelessness, for services to prevent people falling into homelessness, and for development of affordable housing.
- More than $290 million in direct community investments and partnerships with community-based organizations.
- More than $89 million to expand the system of care and reduce reliance on incarceration; support justice-focused community organizations; create jobs for justice-involved individuals; and address trauma and violence in communities. This ARP funding includes $47.1 million for Care First, Jails Last programs, which will augment $100 million in additional County funding for Care First and Community Investments (also known as Measure J investments.)
- $12.5 million to support immigrants and immigrant-focused community-based organizations that provide a broad range of services, including legal representation, wealth-building assistance and organizational capacity building—in addition to a broad range of other ARP-funded assistance, from nutrition to childcare to health outreach, intended to benefit immigrant and other high-need communities.
- $70 million for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits hit hard by the pandemic.
For an even more detailed look at the program’s specific budget plans, click here.
