At an August 18 City Council budget hearing, Long Beach Health and Human Services Director Alison King told councilmembers the department is “truly digging down” into the leadership of nonprofit homeless‑service providers that receive millions of public dollars. The brief exchange, prompted by Councilmember Kristina Duggan of the 3rd district, highlighted the city’s renewed focus on safeguarding taxpayer funds.
New Safeguards and Staffing
King explained that the department has worked closely with the City Auditor’s Office and added staff dedicated to monitoring providers. “We have increased our staffing to be able to ensure that monitoring of these providers does indeed take place,” she said. The added personnel will review contracts, track invoicing and verify that services are delivered as promised.
Contract Revamps to Address “Less Obvious” Issues
In response to concerns that were previously difficult to detect, the city will revamp its contracts with homeless‑service organizations. King said, “We are putting safeguards and guardrails in to try and address some of those things.” While she did not name specific concerns or providers, the language suggests tighter performance metrics, clearer documentation requirements and stronger penalties for non‑compliance.
Recent Disputes Prompt Action
The move follows billing and compliance disputes involving two major providers: First to Serve and the April Parker Foundation. First to Serve held several city contracts since 2022, operating shelters and providing rapid‑rehousing services. After the city identified contract‑compliance concerns, it halted payments and eventually replaced First to Serve as the operator of several shelters.
The April Parker Foundation, another selected provider, had payments withheld over disputed invoices. The foundation denies the city’s claims and has sued Long Beach, seeking roughly $1.1 million it says is owed.
Ongoing Audit and Accountability
The City Auditor is conducting a broader audit of homeless‑service spending, provider compliance and the Health Department’s oversight. The audit is slated for completion by the end of summer. When NBC4 asked for details about the original vetting of First to Serve and the April Parker Foundation, the department issued a written response rather than an on‑camera interview.
The statement emphasized that the city uses a competitive Request for Proposals process that evaluates an organization’s program plan, staffing, experience, capacity and financial information. It also noted the creation of a dedicated contract‑monitoring and compliance team, revamped monitoring tools and added resources to investigate potential concerns.
According to the department, these enhancements “put the City in a stronger position to identify issues earlier and respond more quickly.” When concerns arise, the city may provide technical assistance, require corrective action, withhold payments for insufficient documentation, or terminate contracts.
Remaining Questions
Despite the announced changes, the department did not disclose the specific vetting steps taken before awarding contracts to First to Serve or the April Parker Foundation, nor did it identify the “less obvious” concerns referenced by King. NBC4 also sought clarification on whether any city employees faced disciplinary action for oversight failures; the department responded that personnel matters are confidential.
Long Beach residents and advocacy groups continue to watch the situation closely, urging full transparency and accountability as the city works to ensure that homeless‑service dollars are spent wisely and reach those in need.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
