L.A.'s flagship homelessness program will receive an additional $3 million in federal funding, Mayor Karen Bass's office announced Saturday.
The $3 million for Inside Safe adds another drop into the program's $250 million budget for this year, which the city council's top budget advisor described as "unprecedented" when approved by the city council last year.
The statement accompanying the mayor's announcement did not specify how Inside Safe would apply the new funds.
The funding includes support for other L.A. city housing programs, including about $5.8 million to renovate buildings that offer supportive housing and $500,000 to prepare a city-owned lot that will be used for a mixed-use development with 100% affordable housing.
The funds are part of a $9.3 million package secured last year by California congressional representatives, including the late Senator Dianne Feinstein.
The announcement comes a day after L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia said he planned to lead an audit into Inside Safe "to bring more transparency & accountability to Inside Safe," he wrote in a statement published yesterday. Mejia also cited a "lack of transparency & accountability on homelessness efforts despite billions of dollars spent" from the city.
LAist has reached out to Mayor Bass's office and Mejia's office for comment.
