Out of the 2,000 apartments intended for the homeless in Nitya Raman’s $60 million initiative, only three have been occupied so far.
Raman, who leads the Los Angeles City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, launched this temporary grant program in September as a cost-effective alternative to Mayor Karen Bass’s Inside Safe initiative, which aims to transition homeless individuals into stable housing.
Instead of compelling people to stay in motels or shelters, Raman’s approach was to secure 2,000 apartments and cover their rent.
However, nearly a year into the project, and with $62.6 million in taxpayer funds allocated, only three apartments have found tenants.
Raman’s office pointed to delays in administration and contracting as the culprits, expressing frustration that vital resources are held up in bureaucratic processes.
The City Council initially supported this subsidy model last September, as part of a response to a court settlement involving the Los Angeles Human Rights Alliance.
By January 28, Congress approved additional funding for a revamped initiative targeting 2,000 families.
The full implementation began on March 1, yet by June 25, only three units had residents, as noted in Raman’s report to the Homeless Commission on July 1. This is especially concerning for a program Raman has been promoting as part of his mayoral campaign.
“We’re seeing a pace of one household a month, which isn’t a solution,” Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez commented, adding that the program appears to be failing. “They’ve realized there’s an issue with the rollout,” she said.
Rodriguez highlighted a disconnect between promises and results, stating, “Talking is not the same as acting. You can say a lot, but if nothing happens, it’s meaningless.”
This slow progress echoes issues with another homeless initiative linked to Raman, which the Post found also faced delays despite significant government funding. Specifically, a $4,011,357 state grant aimed at addressing unsafe encampments along the Los Angeles River has remained untouched, nearly two years after it was issued.
Rodriguez criticized the early results of the program, emphasizing that the pace—less than one household per month—is insufficient to address Los Angeles’s homelessness crisis. “It’s just not acceptable,” she remarked.
The funding for this effort originated from California’s Encampment Solutions Fund, which aims to transition individuals from encampments to supportive housing. Despite challenges, Raman’s team attributes the slow rollout to various administrative hurdles.
By choosing Raman’s temporary grant program, the City Council shifts from the costly motel model that averages around $85,000 per person annually.
Paul Webster, executive director of the Los Angeles Human Rights Alliance, remarked, “This reflects how Los Angeles is handling homelessness—much too little, too late, with not enough urgency to help the most vulnerable quickly.”
Raman’s office contested the latest numbers, describing them as merely an “initial snapshot” of the redesigned program. “The service provider’s contract only started this spring, and we’re committed to monitoring progress closely,” Raman explained.
He envisions reducing dependence on Mayor Bass’s Inside Safe program, redirecting funding toward affordable options like limited-time grants and shared housing.
While Inside Safe has a significantly higher cost, it yields far more placements. Since its implementation in 2022, it has cost around $391 million and served nearly 6,000 individuals.
As of early 2026, 1,571 participants remain in stable housing, while 1,752 are in transitional situations, and another 2,866 have exited the program.
“Given $62 million resulted in just three households, it puts Inside Safe in a favorable light,” Rodriguez commented, suggesting that if Raman wants to critique Inside Safe, he should focus on making alternatives more effective, rather than less.
