Concern Grows Over lack of Progress With L.A.'s $1.2 Billion Homeless Housing Bond

Measure HHH promised to build 10,000 new units of homeless housing units in the city of Los Angeles. Two years later, not a single unit has been added.

1 minute read

March 11, 2019, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Skid Row Los Angeles

Russ Allison Loar / Wikimedia Commons

Jason McGahan audits Measure HHH, a $1.2 billion bond measure approved by city of Los Angeles voters in 2017.

"Ultimately more than 77 percent of voters in Los Angeles, a city that in 2016 had more than 21,000 people sleeping at night on its streets, voted to tax themselves to build supportive housing for the chronically homeless, affordable housing for extremely low-income tenants, and provide temporary shelter and services to the destitute," according to McGahan.

Two years later, progress has been slow, despite the promises of the city's elected officials. McGahan reveals details: "A Los Angeles magazine analysis found that the first 25 projects funded by HHH have been delayed by an average of 203 days past their estimated start date: the shortest holdup was 28 days; the longest, 424."

Those delays put Measure HHH's goals to deliver 10,000 units of homeless housing in "serious jeopardy," according to McGahan. "Not a single HHH unit was completed by the end of 2018" and "no more than 239 of the affordable units are expected to be completed by the end of this year."

Sunday, March 10, 2019 in Los Angeles Magazine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

June 15 - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

June 15 - The Washington Post