LACO Briefs: Small Property Relief Program Audited and Department of Mental Health Awarded

Delayed Small Property Owner Relief Program Sparks Audit

LOS ANGELES — Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Holly J. Mitchell Oct. 30 voiced their dissatisfaction with Los Angeles County’s delayed roll-out of a small property owner rent relief program approved by the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 24, and have called for an audit to both examine the process and identify the reasons for those delays.

The approved motion that created the rent relief program — introduced by Supervisor Barger and co-authored by Mitchell — directed Los Angeles County’s Department of Business and Consumer Affairs or DCBA to distribute $45 million to mom-and-pop property owners for back rent owed since April 2022 and onward.

Nine months have passed since the motion’s approval, yet neither an application nor program guidelines have been made available to the public.

Los Angeles County’s chief executive officer is conducting the audit and the results are expected within two weeks. 

Details: https://tinyurl.com/Property-owners-relief-fund 

LACO Department of Mental Health Receives Two Awards

LOS ANGELES — This year, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health or LACDMH is receiving two awards from the County of Los Angeles’ Quality and Productivity Commission which recognizes innovative programs and efficiency in the delivery of services to the communities and residents served. 

The QPC named LACDMH’s Alternative Crisis Response or ACR Initiative as this year’s Mega Million Dollar Award winner and also named it as one of the recipients of the Top Ten Awards; the ten recipients are all eligible for the top three placements of Gold, Silver, or Bronze Eagle Awards. Winners of these three awards were announced at the 36th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards Program at the Music Center, Oct.18.

Created in June 2020 as part of the Board of Supervisors’ Care First, Jails Last initiative, the goal of ACR has been to divert calls from 9-1-1 to 9-8-8, thereby reducing law enforcement interaction and incarceration, decreasing emergency room visits and hospitalization, and increasing a more equitable mental health outcome.

Of the 5,000 calls and texts made to 9-8-8 each month, 95% are safely resolved over the phone. Additionally, of the nearly 1,500 mental health mobile crisis teams dispatched each month, at least 92% can be resolved without law enforcement involvement of any kind. This has resulted in cost avoidance of approximately $70 million dollars.

Details: dmh.lacounty.gov/acr.