Measure H lags in early returns
The quarter-cent sales tax increase to combat homelessness was falling short of a two-thirds majority.
A quarter-cent sales tax increase in Los Angeles County to fund anti-homelessness measures was falling short of the required two-thirds majority late Tuesday, but backers said they remained hopeful about late returns.
Measure H would generate about $355 million annually for homeless programs over 10 years, backers say. The tax increase would raise the sales tax rate to 9% across most of Los Angeles County and up to 10% in a few communities.
It would be the second phase of a two-step fundraising strategy developed by the city and county. Los Angeles city voters approved a $1.2-billion bond measure in November to provide supplemental funding for 10,000 units of permanent housing with support services for the chronically homeless.
The new sales tax revenue would pay for services attached to those units and provide rental subsidies and services for thousands more units across the county.
With about one-quarter of county precincts reporting, the yes vote was just under 63%.
City Council President Herb Wesson, Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson and county Supervisor Janice Hahn all said they remained optimistic.
“Every new report that has been received since the first one is trending in the direction we want,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas.
Hahn said that if the sales tax increase failed she would try again in the future.
“Win or lose, I’m going to have homelessness at the top of my priorities as a supervisor,” Hahn said.
Advertising for the measure promised it would move an estimated 45,000 families and individuals from homelessness into permanent housing during the first five years, while preventing 30,000 more families and individuals from becoming homeless.
“Measure H revenue will enable the most comprehensive plan to combat home
lessness in the history of Los Angeles County,” said Phil Ansell, head of the county’s Homeless Initiative.
The still-evolving plan includes rent to house thousands of people in existing apartments and services for those units, and an additional 10,000 units to be built over a decade with help from the homeless housing bond approved by city voters in November.
County officials have outlined the basic strategies that would be funded, but they have not yet issued a budget showing the proportions each would receive. Those decisions would be sorted out by a panel of 50 people appointed from county government, cities and the nonprofit world, Ansell said.
The panel would consider six main categories: subsidized housing, coordinated outreach and shelters, case management and services, homelessness prevention, income support and preservation of existing housing.
More than 250 business, nonprofit, labor, government and religious organizations endorsed Measure H, which faced no organized opposition.
A $3.5-million campaign received contributions from real estate and investment firms, labor organizations, and other groups. Those donors include Disney Worldwide Services Inc., USC, former DreamWorks Animation Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg and the L.A. Chargers. The campaign sent about 4 million mailers and advertised in L.A. County newspapers.
The county Board of Supervisors added $1 million for a campaign including television spots.