The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this week appointed Sarah Mahin as the first director of the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing (DHSH).
Mahin currently serves as the Director of Housing for Health (HFH) as part of the County’s Department of Health Services, considered the blueprint for the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing. For the past six years, she has overseen a $875 million budget, more than 600 staff and contracts with hundreds of community-based organizations.
Mahin has worked in homeless services for two decades, including at the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
“We need bold, effective leadership to tackle the homelessness crisis and I believe Sarah Mahin is the right choice to lead our County’s new Department of Homeless Services and Housing,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger.
Board of Supervisors Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis noted that Mahin has already been a driving force behind some of the County’s most impactful housing and health efforts, including her close collaboration with her office in delivering on the Skid Row Action Plan, the Skid Row Care Campus, and the Every Woman Housed initiative.
“As she [Mahin] steps into this new role, I am confident she will not only advance comprehensive, person-centered solutions to homelessness but also be instrumental in strengthening partnerships with all 88 cities across Los Angeles County as we work together to end homelessness,” said Solis.
Mahlin said she is honored to serve as the inaugural director of the Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
“For me, this work has always been rooted in innovation, collaboration, and accountability to the people and communities that we serve. I am committed to leading with those values at the forefront. Together — with housed and unhoused neighbors, frontline workers, community partners, and local leaders — we will build a department grounded in dignity, inclusion, and real solutions that meet this moment and the future,” she said.
The naming of Mahlin comes after the Board of Supervisors approved the new department earlier this year. The department’s goal and vision are increased accountability, improved service delivery for people experiencing homelessness, and reduced burden on the providers who serve them every day.
DHSH will be officially established by January 1, 2026. A robust community engagement plan has been developed, and community meetings will be announced soon. In the interim, the public may submit questions or comments about the new department here. For more information, visit ceo.lacounty.gov/dh.
