U.S. Launches Task Force to Investigate Homelessness Fund Mismanagement

Led by U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, the initiative aims to uncover fraud and corruption in federal homelessness funding across Southern California.

The Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force has been established to investigate misuse of federal funds intended to address homelessness in the Central District of California.
The task force will review federal, state, and local programs, with a focus on Los Angeles County, which has over 75,000 homeless individuals.
Federal prosecutors will collaborate with the FBI, HUD Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigation to ensure accountability and transparency.
Bill Essayli emphasized the need to address long-standing oversight failures, citing recent audits that revealed poor financial controls and disjointed services.
Local officials, including L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, have endorsed the task force as a critical step to restore public trust and ensure proper use of funds.