LOS ANGELES (October 5, 2021) -- Today, Central City Association (CCA) released a white paper that urges the Los Angeles City Government (the City) to evaluate the efficacy of public health service delivery to city residents. CCA recommends using this analysis to consider creating an independent citywide public health department or other independent health systems that could improve health outcomes for all Angelenos, especially the unhoused and other vulnerable populations, while encouraging stronger governmental coordination. Read the full white paper at ccala.org/publichealth.

Public health systems are responsible for the most vulnerable groups, including unhoused people. The City represents 62 percent (41,290 people in January 2020) of the County's homeless population and an estimated 41 percent of the County's homeless population has a serious mental illness or substance use disorder. The City may benefit from reviewing its public health systems given the significant need for mental health and substance use treatments among the unhoused population, coupled with the need to support small businesses that must comply with public health regulations as well as greater efficiency in resource allocation and improved accountability.

The City is taking initial steps to consider which public health and homeless service governance options can best support residents' health and wellbeing. CCA urges the City to build on this work through the following actions:

• Retain a consultant with expertise in public health to help identify gaps in services and to
  determine if LA City residents are receiving a fair share of LA County services.
• Align the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority with public health systems to better meet
  the needs of homeless residents.
• Plan to reduce the size of Service Planning Areas to improve service delivery across LA County
  DPH's jurisdictions.
• Continue to look at the potential for an independent Continuum of Care and consider
  whether to establish a full-fledged citywide health department.
• Address longstanding underfunding of public health departments by securing additional state
  funding.

"The ongoing pandemic, growing homeless population, rise in mental illness and struggling businesses indicate that now is the time to reexamine our public systems," said Jessica Lall, President & CEO of Central City Association. "As we continue to respond to new phases of the pandemic and work toward an equitable recovery, we need to look at how Angelenos could benefit from the City playing a dedicated role in delivering public health services to its communities."

"Thriving, prosperous communities are healthy, well-resourced communities," said Stephanie Graves, President & CEO of Lee Andrews Group and CCA Board Chair. "CCA's recommendations highlight the need for strong coordination of public health services to ensure that Los Angeles can recover from the pandemic better and stronger than before."

For more information on CCA white papers, see ccala.org/white-papers.