LAHSA CEO Dr. Christina Adams Kellum Steps Down After County Votes to Redirect Homeless Services

Downtown, Los Angeles–In a letter announcing her resignation, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) CEO, Dr. Christina Adams Kellum, referred to her tenure as “my life’s mission.” However, following a recent decision by the LA County Board of Supervisors to create a new, independent homelessness agency and to stop funding LAHSA, Adams Kellum said it was “the right time for me to resign.”

While her departure after two years of leadership comes amid some progress, it raises crucial questions about accountability and the future of homelessness solutions in Los Angeles. Adams Kellum will remain with the department for at least four more months to help with the transition while the search for her successor begins. But with homelessness continuing to be a top issue in Los Angeles, her resignation prompts deeper reflections on the effectiveness of LAHSA’s leadership and the broader handling of the crisis.

Read More: https://www.lahsa.org

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) has faced growing criticism due to a series of audits revealing significant financial mismanagement and operational inefficiencies. A November 2024 audit by the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller uncovered issues such as lax accounting practices, delayed payments to service providers, and millions in unaccounted cash advances. This raised serious questions about the agency’s ability to manage funds and deliver results in addressing the homelessness crisis.

A subsequent court-ordered audit in March 2025 further highlighted systemic flaws, including poor coordination of services, inadequate monitoring of providers, and the lack of standardized contract terms—leading to inefficiencies and vulnerabilities to fraud.

Wendy Greuel, Chair of the LAHSA Commission, praised Adams Kellum’s tenure, stating that she had been “a change agent” who brought improvements in key areas.

“We appreciate her leadership over the last 24 months, which has contributed to the region’s first reduction in unsheltered homelessness in years,” Greuel said.

But with years of ineffective leadership prior to Adams Kellum’s tenure, one must wonder whether the changes implemented during her time at the helm were enough to reverse the years of damage. The leadership of LAHSA has seen significant turnover, adding to concerns about stability and accountability within the agency.

In addition to the resignation of Dr. Christina Adams Kellum, who stepped down in early 2025 after a two-year tenure, LAHSA has gone through multiple directors in recent years, underscoring the instability at the top. Adams Kellum was hired in 2023 during a time of rising homelessness, and her departure follows a series of leadership changes, including the resignation of former LAHSA CEO Jon Shirey in 2021, who had served only briefly before stepping down.

Read More: https://voiceofblackla.com/la-homeless-services-authority-names-va-lecia-adams-kellum-as-ceo/