With a pandemic-era senior meals program set to expire after next month, the Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to study its effectiveness and identify alternative funding for its continued operation.
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The council voted 14-0, with Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson absent during the vote.
Council members also sent a $12 million request for the Rapid Response Senior Meals Program to the council's Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee for further consideration.
Councilwoman Heather Hutt had originally introduced the motion calling to extend the program's funding through the end of 2024, but it was later amended by the five-member budget committee to evaluate the service and possibly identify funding sources outside of the city's general fund.
"With over 18% of our seniors currently living in poverty, our city's senior population is one the most vulnerable segments of our society and continues to grow everyday. This is why I created the motion to reestablish the city's Rapid Response Senior Meals program, and secure funding to continue for the rest of the year," Hutt said in a statement.
"This homeless prevention resource has made a huge impact in keeping seniors from ending up on the streets," she added. "As a city, we must work harder to ensure that we are serving our growing senior population and ensure that we meet their needs. Unfortunately the majority of the City Council disagreed (Tuesday), and the program will end effective August 31st."
Several council members opposed Hutt's $12 million request. Councilman Bob Blumenfield cited concerns around the Brown Act -- a state law that guarantees the public's right to attend and participate in government meetings - - and how allocating millions of dollars would "throw away" the budget process.
"If we were to just spend $12 million, we're going to have to find equal cuts in street services and police, and all the things that we work on," Blumenfield said.
The councilman also noted the council accepted a $24 million federal grant that will support the city's Department of Aging . Of that money, about $5 million will go toward congregate meals and another $8.6 million will support home-delivered meal services, provided through organizations such as Project Angel Food and Meals on Wheels .
Blumenfield also raised questions about the program, which he says disproportionately provides service across the 15 council districts. He also described the program as "less cost-effective" than other senior meal services.
"Councilwoman Heather Hutt is here moving this forward because of the success of that program," Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez said. "We've been able to feed people, and I know we put time limits on things but sometimes when things work, we should invest in moving those forward."
The city implemented the program during the COVID-19 pandemic to address growing food insecurity. Revolution Food , in partnership with the city, delivers five free meals per week to seniors who signed up for the program.
In Mayor Karen Bass ' budget for fiscal year 2024-25 , approved by the City Council, cuts were made to address financial challenges arising from new labor agreements, unexpected spending and an increase in liability claims. The Department of Aging will have a shortfall of about $2.45 million, and officials previously said the program does not have enough funding.
In the last fiscal year, the Rapid Response Senior Meals Program is estimated to have cost the city about $5.2 million, according to a report from the Department of Aging. About 5,469 seniors participated in the program with another 1,307 people placed on a wait list.
The state of California offers congregate and home-delivered meal programs, though services have certain criteria, including limiting participants to "homebound" seniors.
Revolution Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a budget committee meeting on June 16, Revolution Foods' CEO told council members that "Los Angeles is a uniquely car-centric city, and many seniors who don't qualify as `homebound' still cannot drive or safely walk the distances required to meet their daily needs for meals."
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