Thursday, August 13, 2026

Federal Toolkit Names L.A. County Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Team A Model; Barger Points To Fifth District Funding

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger speaks with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) deputies before a homeless encampment operation in the Antelope Valley in November 2024. [Diandra Jay/Los Angeles County]

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner unveiled the toolkit, which identifies HOST as a model for multidisciplinary outreach efforts.

Barger said in a statement that she directed funding to HOST teams dedicated only to the Fifth District, separate from the teams that serve the county at large.

In regions including the Antelope Valley, Barger said, unsheltered homelessness has declined, encampments have been cleared safely and individuals have been reunited with family members. She did not provide figures.

“I appreciate the federal toolkit’s recognition of HOST and the multidisciplinary approach it represents,” Barger said. “It reinforces an important lesson: meaningful progress depends on strong partnerships across public safety, healthcare, housing, and human services.”

She said the county will continue pursuing a range of evidence-based strategies intended to help people move toward stability.

Barger credited HOST deputies along with outreach workers, healthcare professionals, behavioral health specialists, housing partners and community organizations, saying their work demonstrates the value of a systemic approach to homelessness.

Barger said effective responses to homelessness require collaboration and flexibility because people face different challenges and need different forms of support.