Overview

Measure A, passed by Los Angeles County voters in 2024, introduced a half-percent sales tax increase to generate approximately $1 billion annually for homeless services and affordable housing. This measure was designed to provide greater transparency and accountability in the use of funds.

With L.A. County housing the largest homeless population in the U.S., the measure aims to address the growing crisis. The initiative seeks to replace an existing temporary sales tax known as Measure H, which was set to expire in 2027.

Key details

  • Measure A was approved by voters in 2024.
  • The measure increases the sales tax by half a percent.
  • It aims to raise about $1 billion each year for homelessness and affordable housing.
  • Measure A replaces Measure H, a quarter-percent sales tax approved in 2017.
  • Measure H generated approximately $500 million annually.
  • The number of unhoused individuals in shelters rose from about 15,000 in 2017 to around 23,000 in 2024.
  • Despite the increase in shelter use, the overall homeless population in L.A. County grew by 37% from 2017 to 2024.
  • In 2024, the unhoused population was estimated at over 75,000.
  • Measure A aims to double the special sales tax for homelessness and make it permanent.
  • The additional revenue from Measure A is intended to support the construction of more affordable housing.
  • The county enacted the “Affordable Housing, Homelessness Solutions, and Prevention Now Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance.”
  • The collection of the Measure A tax began in April 2025.

Context

The homeless crisis in Los Angeles County has reached alarming levels, with the county's homeless population surpassing 72,000. The introduction of Measure A reflects a community response to this urgent issue, aiming to enhance both services for the unhoused and the availability of affordable housing.

What happens next

As Measure A begins to generate revenue, the focus will shift to how effectively the funds are allocated and whether they lead to tangible improvements in the homeless population's living conditions and access to housing.

What we don't know yet

Details regarding the specific allocation of Measure A funds and the anticipated outcomes of the increased revenue are not confirmed.