On March 7, Los Angeles voters passed Measure H—a companion measure to last Fall’s Proposition HHH. Part of the $355 million generated annually by Measure H’s quarter-cent tax hike will pay for services at the 10,000 permanent-supportive units slated to be built for LA’s chronically homeless population under Proposition HHH. Developers of those homes would be unable to move forward, however, until services are in place—making Measure H critical to fulfilling the goals of HHH.

Unlike the bond measure voters signed off on in November which would help pay for construction and  development costs, Measure H provides for homeless services and prevention including housing assistance and rental subsidies, outreach teams, and resources like job training, counseling, and mental health treatment.

With more than 47,000 people spending their nights on Los Angeles streets, the combination of Measure H and  Measure HHH shows how serious LA’s citizens and elected officials are about finally addressing the homelessness crisis.  With 252 units of supportive housing in the works, Mercy Housing plans to play a major role in creating the permanent supportive housing we know is key to making a dent in the county’s homelessness crisis.