A federal judge is contemplating a contempt ruling against Los Angeles due to the city’s alleged failure to meet its obligations in a settlement agreement related to the region’s ongoing homelessness crisis. U.S. District Judge David Carter has been conducting evidentiary hearings since last month, following a lawsuit filed by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights in March 2020. The lawsuit claims that both the city and Los Angeles County have not adequately addressed the homelessness issue.
In September 2023, Judge Carter approved a settlement requiring the county to provide an additional 3,000 beds for mental health and substance abuse treatment by the end of next year. The agreement also includes subsidies for 450 new board-and-care beds. Although the L.A. Alliance reached a settlement with the city in 2022, it has since filed documents alleging the city is failing to meet the terms of the agreement, which mandates the production of 12,915 shelter beds by June 2027.
An independent assessment, released in March, raised concerns as it could not verify the number of homeless shelter beds that the city claims to have established. Judge Carter has noted the city’s “consistent lack of cooperation and responsiveness,” highlighting an unwillingness to provide necessary documentation unless compelled by a court order or public scrutiny.
While Judge Carter has yet to determine if the city has fully breached the settlement agreement, he is seriously considering a contempt ruling. The ongoing litigation has drawn criticism from city officials, including Nithya Raman, a City Councilmember and chair of the city’s Housing and Homeless Committee. In a letter shared on her website, Raman expressed concern that the litigation is detracting from the primary goal of providing shelter and housing for the homeless population in Los Angeles.
Raman stated, “Litigation in this case is now dragging on in ways that feel very removed from the goal of providing shelter and housing to people living on LA’s streets.” She further criticized the judge’s repeated evidentiary hearings and extensive data requests, arguing they exceed the original settlement agreement’s reporting obligations. She described these demands as taxing an already strained system, contributing to confusion and escalating costs.
The city is obligated to comply with the terms of the L.A. Alliance settlement agreement. However, Raman indicated that she believes the oversight expected by the Angelenos regarding the homelessness system may not be achieved in Judge Carter’s courtroom.
Contempt proceedings are set to continue on Thursday, as the court deliberates the next steps in this significant case affecting the future of homelessness solutions in Los Angeles.
