West Hollywood Backs County Measure to Combat Homelessness

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA -- The West Hollywood City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution to support Measure H, the county's plan to combat homelessness.

Voters will have a chance to decide the measure in the upcoming countywide election on March 7. The measure is intended to lift thousands of families and individuals out of homelessness and into better lives.

"Homelessness is an ever-increasing concern," West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister said. "The need for Measure H is great and it is urgent. We must do everything we can on a regional level to support funding for programs and services that will help people to enter shelter, to access substance abuse treatment, and hopefully be able to maintain stable housing."

If approved by two-thirds of voters, Measure H will raise the countywide sales tax by one-quarter cent, generating approximately $355 million a year to address homelessness.

The fund would be used for services that prevent and combat homelessness, including mental health services, substance abuse treatment, health care, education, job training, rental and housing subsidies, and other services.

"In West Hollywood, we've launched an innovative Homeless Initiative that's helping us to reach homeless people in our community and connect them to services," Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman said. "Our City, however, is just 1.9 square miles and the need for additional services within West Hollywood and across the County is extensive -- Measure H is critically important to our collective ability to impact homelessness."

The city of West Hollywood will send copies of the West Hollywood City Council Resolution in Support of Measure H to members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Governor Jerry Brown, Senator Ben Allen, and to Assemblyman Richard Bloom.

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