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Los Angeles, California, Homelessness Reduction and Prevention Housing, and Facilities Bond Issue, Measure HHH (November 2016)
| Measure HHH: Los Angeles Homelessness Reduction and Prevention Housing, and Facilities Bond Issue |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| City bonds |
| Related articles |
| City bonds on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Los Angeles, California |
A homeless services bond issue was on the ballot for Los Angeles voters in Los Angeles County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $1.2 billion in bonds to fund housing for homeless people and people at risk of becoming homeless and to fund facilities that provide mental health care, addiction treatment, and other services. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $1.2 billion in bonds to fund housing for homeless people and people at risk of becoming homeless and to fund facilities that provide mental health care, addiction treatment, and other services. |
District officials estimated the total debt service cost for the loan—including principal and interest—at $1,893,000,000. District officials also estimated the average property tax rate required to repay these bonds to be $9.64 per $100,000 in assessed property value.[1]
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure HHH.
Election results
| Measure HHH | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 916,518 | 77.14% | ||
| No | 271,582 | 22.86% | ||
- Election results from Los Angeles County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION AND PREVENTION, HOUSING, AND FACILITIES BOND. PROPOSITION HHH. To provide safe, clean affordable housing for the homeless and for those in danger of becoming homeless, such as battered women and their children, veterans, seniors, foster youth, and the disabled; and provide facilities to increase access to mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment, and other services; shall the City of Los Angeles issue $1,200,000,000 in general obligation bonds, with citizen oversight and annual financial audits?[2] |
” |
Ballot summary
The following summary of Measure HHH was provided by city officials:[1]
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THE SITUATION: The homeless population in Los Angeles is approximately 26,000 -- an 11% increase since 2015 -- partly due to an undersupply of affordable housing, overall low vacancy rates, and high rents. Homelessness affects all segments of society and is a public health and safety concern Citywide. The City and County of Los Angeles, in partnership with key stakeholders, determined that approximately 13,000 housing units are needed. Revenue sources are required to finance this housing. THE PROPOSAL: The City would issue up to $1,200,000,000 in general obligation bonds to buy, build, or remodel facilities to provide:
Citizens Oversight and Administrative Oversight Committees would monitor bond expenditures. A financial audit shall be conducted annually. The bonds will be paid from an increase in property taxes, as detailed in the accompanying tax rate statement. A YES VOTE MEANS: You want to issue up to $1,200,000,000 in bonds to develop housing and facilities to reduce and prevent homelessness. A NO VOTE MEANS: You do not want to issue up to $1,200,000,000 in bonds to develop housing and facilities to reduce and prevent homelessness.[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Sharon M. Tso, Chief Legislative Analyst:
| “ |
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s (LAHSA) recent count of homeless individuals determined that there are approximately 26,000 homeless individuals in Los Angeles, a growth of 11% in the past year. Homelessness and homeless encampments have increased Citywide and are a safety and public health issue. Contributing to homelessness is the lack of affordable housing, low vacancy rates, and rising rents. These factors limit housing options, while high rents put more people at risk of homelessness. After extensive analysis and working in cooperation with the County of Los Angeles, LAHSA and the non-profit community, the City adopted the Comprehensive Homeless Strategy on February 9, 2016. The strategy determined that 13,000 units of new housing, including 10,000 units of supportive housing, are needed at an estimated cost exceeding $1 billion to house the homeless. The City’s strategy incorporates the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) and LAHSA’s position that providing stable housing to a homeless individual prior to providing needed services is more effective at resolving homelessness compared to offering services without guaranteed housing. Development of this housing requires a dedicated revenue source since the City does not have the funding capacity in its current operating budget. If approved, this proposal will authorize the City to issue General Obligation bonds in the amount of $1,200,000,000 to develop housing and facilities for the homeless and affordable housing for those at risk of homelessness, as follows: • Supportive housing or units for individuals and families who are homeless or chronically homeless and (1) extremely low income, or (2) very low income, as defined by HUD for the County of Los Angeles. This housing includes facilities from which assistance and services, such as mental health treatment, health care, drug and alcohol treatment, education and job training, may be provided by the City, other public entities, non-profit entities and/or private entities; • Temporary shelter facilities, storage facilities, shower facilities and other facilities to be used by the City, other public entities, non-profit entities and/or private entities to provide supportive services or goods to, or otherwise benefit, those who are homeless, chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness; • Affordable housing or units, including veterans housing, for individuals and families who are (1) extremely low income, (2) very low income and/or (3) low income, as defined by HUD for the County of Los Angeles, including individuals and families who are not currently homeless but are at risk of homelessness; provided, however, that not more than 20% of general obligation bond proceeds shall be used for such purposes; and/or • Associated infrastructure and landscaping, including utilities, sidewalks and streets to be used in connection with the housing units and other facilities described above. TQ4-E *TQ4E* November 2016 Bonds will be issued and expended in accordance with an annual allocation plan. Proceeds will pay for costs associated with acquiring and improving real properties. Bond proceeds will not be used to finance services or operations, and will not be used to replace existing sources of funds dedicated to develop similar supportive and affordable housing or facilities that provide homeless services. This measure will require: • Preparation of an annual plan that prioritizes funding for supportive housing and facilities and the necessary bond issuance to finance those developments; • Establishment of Citizens Oversight and Administrative Oversight Committees to monitor the bond program; and • Annual financial audits which will be available to the public. This measure will become effective if approved by two-thirds of voters[2] |
” |
| —Sharon M. Tso, Chief Legislative Analyst[1] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[1]
- Elise Buik, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Los Angeles
- Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
- Michael Albidrez, CEO Director, Skid Row Housing Trust
- Dr. Mitchell Katz, MD, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
- Richard Close, President, Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association
- Rusty Hicks, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
- Faye Washington, President and CEO, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles
- Antonia Hernandez, President & CEO, California Community Foundation
- Honorable Zev Yaroslavsky, Supervisor, 3rd District (ret.), County of Los Angeles
- Charles E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop, West Angeles Church of God in Christ
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[1]
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Homelessness in Los Angeles is rising dramatically, and unless we take action together the situation will only get worse. As part of the city’s Comprehensive Homeless Strategy, Prop. HHH will: – Provide safe, clean housing for the homeless and those in danger of becoming homeless – Facilitate access to mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment, and other important services – Have strict accountability for spending funds, including citizen oversight with regular independent audits Prop. HHH is a common-sense, cost-effective approach to solving the problem of growing homelessness, increasing encampments, and at-risk populations of homeless women and children, seniors, and veterans. The facts: – More than 26,000 are homeless in Los Angeles – Homelessness in Los Angeles went up 11% last year alone – The number of encampments and people living in vehicles increased by 20% – Women, many who have been victims of rape and assault, account for 61% of the increase since 2013 We can no longer wait to solve this problem – we need immediate solutions to keep people off the street, reduce the number of encampments, and protect vulnerable women and children. Prop. HHH will provide $1.2 billion dollars for safe, clean housing and facilities for mental health, drug and alcohol treatment, and housing assistance. “Proposition HHH will provide the resources our city needs to reduce the number of people living on our streets, build more supportive housing, and provide services necessary to help those battling addiction and illness. Unless we act now, the problem will only get worse.” Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, L.A. Family Housing Prop. HHH will give us the resources to help get homeless the housing and help they need – and go a long way to keeping those in danger of homelessness off the street in the first place. Vote YES on Proposition HHH[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[1]
- G. Rick Marshall, Chief Financial Officer, California Taxpayers Action Network
- Denny Schneider, Community Activist
- Jack Humpreville, Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate
- Mark Ryavec, Former Chief Deputy Assessor, Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office
- Jay Handal, Co-Chair, Citywide Budget Advocates
- Gary Aminoff, President, Alliance for Liberty
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[1]
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We all want to help the homeless off the street. But Proposition HHH is an unnecessary and unfair tax that fails to solve the homeless problem. Rather, the primary beneficiaries are politically well-connected apartment developers. Proposition HHH authorizes borrowing $1.2 billion by selling bonds to Wall Street investors, then paying it back, plus interest, by raising our property taxes, overriding Proposition 13 limits. It’s an unfair tax that would not be levied equally on all taxpayers, taxing recent home buyers much higher than others while renters, even wealthy renters, pay nothing. Because the law says bond funds can only be used for land and buildings, Proposition HHH will not provide funds for operating homeless shelters, mental health or substance abuse treatment, or extra policing to protect residents from the ill effects of homeless encampments. The homeless crisis has been made worse by a legal settlement that temporarily prevents the City from moving homeless people off of sidewalks and into shelters. Proposition HHH will not change the reality that thousands of “service resistant” homeless consistently refuse offers of shelter. Under State law, the County, not the City, is responsible for the care of the homeless. But the County spends its money on other things while it ignores this priority. The City doesn’t have a comprehensive plan other than to throw our cash at the problem. No wonder Proposition HHH does not provide for independent oversight! Finally, this tax is unnecessary. The average annual debt service for the bonds is less than 5% of the increase in the City budget over the next 30 years. A modest allocation of future revenues would avoid the need for this tax increase. California Taxpayers Action Network, a nonpartisan, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization fighting to stop wasteful government spending, urges you to vote NO on this unnecessary and unfair tax.[2] |
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Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Los Angeles, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Los Angeles City bonds Proposition HHH. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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