LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Marcia L. Fudge announced her retirement.
“Secretary Fudge’s contributions to Los Angeles during her time serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development helped bring thousands of Angelenos inside and directly impacted our ability to urgently save lives – and for that, our city is grateful. I’ve spoken with Secretary Fudge about this decision and she has ensured that the transition at the Department will be smooth and that Los Angeles will continue to have a partner at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and especially with the Biden-Harris Administration.
“Over the past three years, Secretary Fudge has been a model of exemplary service, especially addressing the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles and across the country. Secretary Fudge understands the country’s housing and homelessness issues do not fit into a one-size-fits-all approach, and the country needs policies and programs that can adapt to meet a community’s unique housing and homelessness challenges. Her work has helped us bring Angelenos inside faster and save lives by cutting red tape, helping us secure waivers, supporting our efforts by recognizing Los Angeles as an initial pilot city for ALL INside, and supporting us with millions of dollars in funding.
“Secretary Fudge’s contributions to this country span far longer than just over the past 3 years. From her time as a public servant in the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office to eight years as the Mayor of Warrensville Heights to thirteen years as the U.S. Representative for the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, Secretary Fudge has proven to be a remarkable and tireless leader for the people of Ohio and for the country. Then Congresswoman Fudge chaired the Congressional Black Caucus during my first term and I was able to count on her wisdom and advice through my entire time serving alongside her in Congress.
“I wish my friend well in what’s to come and on behalf of a grateful city, we thank her for her service.”
Unprecedented Partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
To date, the Bass Administration’s partnership with HUD has led to historic presumptive eligibility waivers that modify Housing Choice Voucher Program admissions requirements to expedite connecting people experiencing homelessness with available units. More than 800 of these waivers have been utilized to date. In moving to bring unhoused Angelenos inside urgently, the Bass Administration ran into barriers – some Angelenos were unhoused because they were unable to prove financial need or did not possess a government issued identification. Mayor Karen Bass and HUD announced a critical agreement to bring more Angelenos inside faster. Once individuals are in permanent housing, public housing authorities will work to collect verification. The following barriers to bringing Angelenos into permanent housing will be addressed in the agreement:
Self-certification of Income: Unhoused people commonly do not have traditional or banked income. Under the agreement, individuals no longer have to prove a certain income in order to come inside.
Self-certification of Social Security Number: Unhoused people commonly do not have Social Security cards, which are easily lost or stolen. Under this agreement, individuals no longer have to show a Social Security card to move into housing.
Self-certification of Date of Birth: Unhoused people commonly do not have access to these documents due to time spent living unhoused. Under this agreement, individuals no longer need a federal certification or paper records of their date of birth to move into housing.
Self-certification of Disability: Unhoused people commonly do not have access to health care, making it difficult to obtain proper documentation showing disability. Under this agreement, individuals no longer need to provide a doctor’s note proving they are disabled.
In May 2023, the White House and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) announced Los Angeles would be one of six communities part of ALL INside initiative, a first-of-its-kind initiative to address unsheltered homelessness across the country.
Mayor Bass has secured millions of dollars to support Los Angeles’s efforts to bring Angelenos inside. In March 2023, Mayor Bass announced a $60 million investment from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Los Angeles.