September 6, 2025
Developing a Stakeholder Engagement Process for New County Department on Homelessness
Agenda
- Welcome
- A New County Department
- Role of Change Well Project
- Community Engagement Plan
- Input & Feedback
- Next Steps & Close
Department of Homeless Services & Housing
The Board has appointed Sarah Mahin the inaugural Director of the Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
More information can be found at: https://ceo.lacounty.gov/dh/
Department of Homeless Services & Housing
- Brings together our homeless response under one unified department to ensure accountability and faster results.
- Improves care for people experiencing homelessness, and reduces the barriers on the providers who serve them every day.
- Reduces duplication of effort and ensures investments are connected to outcomes.
More information can be found at: https://ceo.lacounty.gov/dh/
Project Timeline
April 1, 2025
Jan 1, 2026
July 2026 +
July 1, 2026
July 1, 2025
III
I-B
II
I-A
Phase III
Phase I-A
Phase II
Phase 0
Phase I-B
CEO-HI & DHS-HFH Integration
County funded LAHSA Integration
Assemble Implementation Team
New Department Establishment
Additional County Program/Service Integration
Why Community Engagement?
This transition provides an opportunity for:
- New collaboration between service providers, people with lived experience, County departments, cities, and elected officials to create positive change in our communities.
- Using what we know is effective to create even more impact and touch even more lives, while at the same time creating more accountability and support for the providers on the front line.
Change Well Project's Role
CWP will support the County’s commitment to people, providers, and public accountability by designing a community engagement process that is inclusive, accessible, and grounded in real-world expertise. Our role is to facilitate input and elevate insight from across the community and build consensus to ensure the department is built on a strong foundation of collaboration, effectiveness, and accountability.
Change Well Project
- We are a network of consultants with deep roots in Los Angeles communities and extensive experience in housing and homelessness
- Our team includes individuals with government systems expertise, leaders from community-based organizations, and community advocates
Building the Plan Collaboratively
Community Partners
LA County Department of Homeless Services & Housing (HSH) **
- People with Lived Homelessness Expertise
- ECRHA
- Leadership Table
- BOS Offices
- Service Providers & Frontline Staff
- Grassroots Organizations
- BPEH, Taskforce on Latinx PEH, AIAN Task Force
- Tribal Communities
- LAHSA, other CoCs, LACAHSA, and PHAs
- Cities and COGs
- Unincorporated Areas
- County Departments
- Homeless Coalitions, DV & Homeless Services Coalition, Faith Collaborative
- LAUSD & LACOE
- People living with mental illness and substance use disorders
Change Well Project
Community Partners
**HSH is the integration of CEO-HI & DHS-HFH**
High-Level Community Engagement Plan
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
September - November
Discovery & Community Engagement
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
- Ensure that Change Well Project plan incorporates previous work to prevent duplication of efforts
- Leverage existing cross-sector collaborative meetings, boards, commissions, and population-focused groups that center People with Lived Expertise to shape and refine the engagement plan
- Engage Cities, COGs, and Unincorporated Areas to shape and refine the plan
2-Day Community Workshops
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Host a 2-day workshop where locally nominated representatives design and build recommendations on key areas for new county department
- Each SPA will have its own 2-day workshop
- The workshops will use facilitative design processes to build consensus on local recommendations
2-Day Community Workshops
There are the three areas that were outlined in the Board motion requiring community engagement. We will include additional design areas that are surfaced locally.
Sustainable feedback mechanism
Design of the structure
Strategies to reduce disparities
Discuss ideas the new department should consider when implementing Measure A regional goals, highlighting crucial strategies the new department can implement to reduce the racial and ethnic disparities among people experiencing homelessness
Identify ways in which the new department can effectively create the conditions for success and support community providers during the design of its structure, programs, and contracting and payment processes
Co-design a sustainable feedback mechanism to provide ongoing recommendations to the new county department
2-Day Workshop: Proposed Dates
Virtual Community Report Back
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Each SPA will have an open meeting to share designs and recommendations back to their local communities for input & insight
1-Day Community Workshops (North/South)
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Workshop for regional groups (SPAs 1-4 and SPAs 5-8) to:
- Share their proposed designs and recommendations, and
- Consolidate and develop coordinated, actionable recommendations to push new department
Countywide CE Report Back
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Report back to all communities and representatives on the consolidated designs and recommendations to the new County department
High-Level Community Engagement Plan
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
- Capture and share the community engagement process, designs, and recommendations
- Updates from County based on what has already been adopted and what the plan is for remaining recommendations
Workshop Representation
Each 2-day workshop will have between 50-65 slots for participants. Representatives from many different groups will be invited to join to represent the region/SPA.
Providers & Frontline Staff
Lived Experts
Cities, COGs, & Unincorporated Areas
County & System Partners
Feedback on Engagement Plan
- What feels most promising about the proposed engagement plan?
- Where do you see opportunities for improvement?
Next Steps
- Join Monthly Town Hall Meetings for Department of Homeless Services and Housing - register at https://ceo.lacounty.gov/dh/
- Prepare for 2-day Workshops by:
- Sharing local locations with Change Well Project
- Beginning nomination process (CWP will share draft roster and sample nomination process)
- Complete the survey to share additional feedback (QR code on next slide)
We Want To Hear From You!
Please complete this short survey to help us know more about you and how you would like to be involved in providing feedback to help shape the new Department on Homelessness. Your input will support the design of services that are equitable, inclusive, and grounded in community experience.
Survey Link: https://tinyurl.com/LACounty-Outreach
Thank You
Neighborhood Council Developing Engagement Process for New County Dept
Change Well Project
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Transcript
September 6, 2025
Developing a Stakeholder Engagement Process for New County Department on Homelessness
Agenda
Department of Homeless Services & Housing
The Board has appointed Sarah Mahin the inaugural Director of the Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
More information can be found at: https://ceo.lacounty.gov/dh/
Department of Homeless Services & Housing
More information can be found at: https://ceo.lacounty.gov/dh/
Project Timeline
April 1, 2025
Jan 1, 2026
July 2026 +
July 1, 2026
July 1, 2025
III
I-B
II
I-A
Phase III
Phase I-A
Phase II
Phase 0
Phase I-B
CEO-HI & DHS-HFH Integration
County funded LAHSA Integration
Assemble Implementation Team
New Department Establishment
Additional County Program/Service Integration
Why Community Engagement?
This transition provides an opportunity for:
Change Well Project's Role
CWP will support the County’s commitment to people, providers, and public accountability by designing a community engagement process that is inclusive, accessible, and grounded in real-world expertise. Our role is to facilitate input and elevate insight from across the community and build consensus to ensure the department is built on a strong foundation of collaboration, effectiveness, and accountability.
Change Well Project
Building the Plan Collaboratively
Community Partners
LA County Department of Homeless Services & Housing (HSH) **
Change Well Project
Community Partners
**HSH is the integration of CEO-HI & DHS-HFH**
High-Level Community Engagement Plan
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
September - November
Discovery & Community Engagement
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Host a 2-day workshop where locally nominated representatives design and build recommendations on key areas for new county department
2-Day Community Workshops
There are the three areas that were outlined in the Board motion requiring community engagement. We will include additional design areas that are surfaced locally.
Sustainable feedback mechanism
Design of the structure
Strategies to reduce disparities
Discuss ideas the new department should consider when implementing Measure A regional goals, highlighting crucial strategies the new department can implement to reduce the racial and ethnic disparities among people experiencing homelessness
Identify ways in which the new department can effectively create the conditions for success and support community providers during the design of its structure, programs, and contracting and payment processes
Co-design a sustainable feedback mechanism to provide ongoing recommendations to the new county department
2-Day Workshop: Proposed Dates
Virtual Community Report Back
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Each SPA will have an open meeting to share designs and recommendations back to their local communities for input & insight
1-Day Community Workshops (North/South)
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Workshop for regional groups (SPAs 1-4 and SPAs 5-8) to:
Countywide CE Report Back
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Report back to all communities and representatives on the consolidated designs and recommendations to the new County department
High-Level Community Engagement Plan
Discovery Phase & Community Engagement
Virtual Community Report Back
2-Day Community Workshops
1-Day Community Workshops North & South Counties
Countywide Community Engagement Report Back
Summary Report & LA County Ongoing Report Back
Workshop Representation
Each 2-day workshop will have between 50-65 slots for participants. Representatives from many different groups will be invited to join to represent the region/SPA.
Providers & Frontline Staff
Lived Experts
Cities, COGs, & Unincorporated Areas
County & System Partners
Feedback on Engagement Plan
Next Steps
We Want To Hear From You!
Please complete this short survey to help us know more about you and how you would like to be involved in providing feedback to help shape the new Department on Homelessness. Your input will support the design of services that are equitable, inclusive, and grounded in community experience.
Survey Link: https://tinyurl.com/LACounty-Outreach
Thank You