Homelessness Action Authority: County of Los Angeles.

Existing law, the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, authorizes 2 or more public agencies, by agreement, to form a joint powers authority to exercise any power common to the contracting parties, as specified. Existing law authorizes the agreement to set forth the manner by which the joint powers authority will be governed. Existing law specifically authorizes the creation of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, a joint powers authority, consisting of specified entities, including the County of Los Angeles, for the purposes of funding housing to assist the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income within the San Gabriel Valley Region. This bill would similarly authorize the creation of the Homelessness Action Authority, a joint powers authority, by the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, and any other city within the jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles, with the stated purpose of funding housing to assist the homeless population and persons and families of extremely low, very low, and low income within the County of Los Angeles. This bill would authorize the Homelessness Action Authority to, among other things, exercise land use authority over the property it owns, oversee the administration of social service programs administered by the County of Los Angeles, issue bonds, acquire land through eminent domain, and fund the planning and construction of housing for the homeless population. Upon creation of the authority, the bill would require the authority to be a recipient of new state and federal funding designated for combating homelessness in the County of Los Angeles and to be a conduit in the County of Los Angeles that will review and approve homelessness projects and program proposals from public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private entities, as specified. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles.