Brandie Ortega had been homeless for a year and a half in the City of Santa Fe Springs, when, one day, she saw Ricky Lucas, the Santa Fe Springs social services case manager, talking to another homeless individual. She decided to approach him. “I thought, it doesn’t hurt to try. Everywhere else I went always gave me the runaround. Maybe this one is going to be different,” she said. “And he was. He was truly concerned — and always kept in touch with me.”
Lucas remembers Brandie coming up to him. “She told me she was living in her car and that she was homeless and very motivated to get off the streets. The fact that she was very motivated inspired me to want to help her even more.” He connected her to a services program that got her into interim housing. For the last three months, she has been living in a house with several other women.
“My life has changed due to Ricky,” said Brandie, who is 50. “He got me referrals and connected me with shelter... I’m no longer living in my car.”
That’s one example of what the Local Solutions Fund, administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH), can do to make an enormous difference in people’s lives. The Local Solutions Fund is a portion of Measure A funding that is allocated to LA County’s 88 cities, Councils of Government, and unincorporated areas to use as they decide, adhering to Measure A goals that guide all efforts to prevent and end homelessness countywide.
In Santa Fe Springs, where homeless services are delivered through the civilian-run Department of Police and Community Services, the Local Solutions Fund enabled the department to hire Lucas, the social services case manager, as well as the housing navigator, William Chang. The funds also partially support the homelessness services supervisor, Raudel Perez.
“We go out there and engage with people who are experiencing homelessness and connect them to the right resources and get them permanently housed,” said Chang.
Finding housing, he explained, is a matter of connecting with the landlords and building relationships.
When Chang and Lucas met Lawrence, he was camped in the front courtyard of a small office building.
Lawrence, 66, who has been homeless off and on in various locations for 10 to15 years, grew up in Cerritos and nearby Whittier. “I really want housing and a job,” he said. “I used to do construction and painting.” He has a brother, he said, who helps him out sometimes. “It’s hard waiting on family,” Johnson said.
“Well, now you have us,” said Chang.
Lawrence said he wouldn’t go to a shelter.
“Right now, our goal is shared housing,” Chang told him.
“You have to have hope and think positive,” Chang said later.
Clifton Trotter and Camila Vicencio watched as Chang talked with Johnson about housing options. Trotter and Vicencio are from the HSH Municipal Relations team, which leads ongoing collaboration with the County’s local jurisdictions to expand and enhance programs that are ending homelessness countywide. “It’s a great chance for Camila and me to see the work on the ground and witness how our Local Solutions Fund dollars are making a real difference,” said Trotter.
The Local Solutions Fund agreement with Santa Fe Springs, which this fiscal year was $554,419, also covers move-in assistance for an estimated 28 individuals, landlord support (such as holding fees, mitigation funds and incentives), and motel vouchers.
In the City of Santa Fe Springs, 199 individuals—23 unsheltered and 176 sheltered–experienced homelessness on any given night in 2025 according to the annual Homeless Count. The city uses other funding to run a pantry stocked with non-perishable food as well as baby supplies and a community closet where people can find a variety of clothing. “The city also contributes general fund dollars toward supporting programs and services to provide short-term and long-term housing for those that are unhoused in our community,” said Arlene Salazar, the director of the civilian-run Police and Community Services for the city of Santa Fe Springs. Homeless services are run through Salazar’s department.
“Having our own case manager and housing navigator provides pretty immediate service delivery,” she said. A housing navigator and case manager in the field could identify people in need and connect them to the necessary help — “or let them know that help was on the way,” Salazar explained.
The Local Solutions Fund is a boon to a small city with limited funds, said city manager René Bobadilla. “Now, we’re able to fund positions that really make a difference in helping our homeless population get the help they need,” he said.
Santa Fe Springs officials said they were looking for a constellation of skills that they found in Lucas and Chang. “One of the things that stuck out for me about William and Ricky was their compassion in the work they do,” said Perez, the homelessness services supervisor.
“These are folks who not only have experience in the field but have a great rapport with their clients,” said Salazar about Lucas and Chang. “These are folks who care deeply about their clients and understand the different types of services that are needed… They understand our mission.”