LAHSA Withholds Records on $800,000 Settlements Amid Transparency Concerns

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which coordinates homeless services across the region including in Inglewood and Compton, is refusing to release public records about allegations of wrongdoing that led to $800,000 in taxpayer settlements, raising concerns about transparency in the agency that oversees crucial homelessness programs.

The refusal to disclose records related to wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation claims filed by two former executives has been called “unlawful” by public records attorneys. The settlements, using public funds, include $450,000 paid to former chief financial officer Kristina Dixon and $350,000 to former data and IT director Emily Vaughn Henry.

These developments come at a critical time for homelessness services in the region. Last month, Los Angeles County voted to withdraw approximately $350 million from LAHSA, a decision that could significantly impact how homelessness programs are administered in communities like Inglewood, where encampments and housing insecurity remain pressing concerns.

“If there’s a threat to sue a public agency, that is something the public absolutely has the right to know,” said David Loy, a public records attorney at the First Amendment Coalition, who called LAHSA’s withholding of records “unlawful.”

While LAHSA eventually released the settlement agreements after multiple requests, officials continue to refuse to disclose the actual claims that detail the allegations against the agency. The settlement documents reveal that Dixon had alleged whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, and defamation, while Vaughn Henry had alleged discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

LAHSA is jointly governed by the city and county of Los Angeles, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass serving on its commission. The agency’s funding impacts services for unhoused individuals throughout the region, including those in Inglewood and surrounding communities.

The agency’s chief executive, Va Lecia Adams Kellum, recently announced her resignation following audits that found LAHSA failed to properly track hundreds of millions in homelessness spending. These financial management issues raise additional concerns about how effectively taxpayer money is being used to address homelessness in communities like Inglewood.

For Inglewood residents and community organizations working to address homelessness, these transparency issues at LAHSA come at a time when clear accountability in homelessness services is particularly important. The city has seen an increase in people experiencing homelessness, particularly following recent economic challenges and housing pressures associated with development around SoFi Stadium and the upcoming Intuit Dome.

Local advocates have emphasized the need for greater transparency in how homelessness funds are allocated and managed, especially as Inglewood works to expand services and support for vulnerable residents.