Statement from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA)

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) issues the following statement regarding today's enforcement actions announced by federal authorities:

LAHSA has zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or the exploitation of public resources dedicated to housing our most vulnerable neighbors. LAHSA commends the U.S. Department of Justice for taking decisive action regarding alleged fraud perpetrated by individuals working in homeless services in the Los Angeles area, including the founder of former LAHSA-contracted provider Home At Last (HAL). Diverting resources meant to house vulnerable neighbors undermines the entire safety net and cannot be tolerated.

We want to make several critical facts clear regarding these proceedings:

• Full Federal Cooperation: LAHSA has actively cooperated with federal investigators and the Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force during this process.

• Decisive Contract Termination: LAHSA terminated its contracts with Home At Last (HAL) in June after strong evidence of wrongdoing emerged and HAL failed to meet its contractual obligations.

• Pursuing Asset Recovery: Following a May 2026 letter from the IRS notifying LAHSA that it may be entitled to claim cash seized from Michael Young, LAHSA continues to pursue recovery of these stolen dollars.

• No LAHSA Staff Implicated: The charges involve external provider executives and outside contractors. No LAHSA personnel are implicated in any wrongdoing.

We appreciate DOJ's efforts to hold these bad actors accountable and remain committed to ensuring that every recovered taxpayer dollar goes back to its intended purpose: saving the lives of unhoused Angelenos. We will continue working side-by-side with federal, state, and local partners to root out bad actors and ensure resources reach the individuals and families who urgently need them.