Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:00BEAUTIFUL YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILY, A DECISION I TOTALLY
00:00:02UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT." HE GOES
00:00:06ON TO SAY THAT KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHO HAS SERVED SINCE THE
00:00:09BEGINNING OF TRUMP SECOND TERM,
00:00:10WILL "BE ONE OF HIS TOP ADVISERS FOLLOWING HER DEPARTURE."
00:00:14KAROLINE LEAVITT CONFIRMED THE NEWS IN A POST SAYING IN PART
00:00:16THAT IT WAS "HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO SERVICE PRESS SECRETARY TOM
00:00:21COOK AND CITED AS BEING A MOTHER AND WELCOMING A NEW BABY HAS KEY
00:00:25REASONS FOR HER DECISION. A SUCCESSOR HAS HAD TO BE NAMED BY THE WHITE HOUSE.
00:00:37>>>> NEXT, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR. AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY
00:00:39SCOTT TURNER ADDRESS ALLEGED FRAUD IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
00:00:42HOMELESS SHELTERS IN LOS ANGELES AND PUSH FOR MORE FAITH-BASED
00:00:45RECOVERY PROGRAMS TO HELP THE HOMELESS. THIS IS 30 MINUTES.
00:00:54[APPLAUSE]
00:01:00>> WELL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU, PASTOR MATT AND
00:01:02VANCE. THE DREAM CENTER TEAM. AND TO ALL OF OUR STUDENT
00:01:07VOLUNTEERS. SO GREAT TO SEE YOU. UH, VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT
00:01:09THE DREAM CENTER DOES ON A DAY
00:01:11TO DAY OPERATION. IT ENCOURAGES
00:01:14MY HEART TO BE HERE AGAIN, UH,
00:01:16AS THEY SERVE THE PEOPLE OF LOS
00:01:19ANGELES AND FULFILL THE MISSION AND THE CALL THAT GOD HAS PLACED
00:01:23ON THEM. CALIFORNIA DRIVER OF
00:01:27OUR NATION'S HOMELESSNESS
00:02:48>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT
00:02:55TRUMP ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE TO ELIMINATE FRAUD AND I'M PROUD
00:02:56OF THE WORK FOR DOJ HAVE DONE TO
00:03:01BRING ACCOUNTABILITY BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT. THESE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF WASTE,
00:03:05FRAUD AND CORRUPTION, UNCOVERED
00:03:06BY JOINT EFFORTS TO HIGHLIGHT
00:03:09WALLY PUT THEM ON NOTICE.
00:03:12THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE ANOTHER SYMPTOM AMERICAN TAXPAYER MONEY
00:03:15UNTIL THEY CAN ACCOUNT FOR EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR.
00:03:19MONDAY, AS WE ALL KNOW AND AGREE, DOES NOT GROW ON TREES.
00:03:24TAXPAYERS UNDERSTAND THIS. AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS.
00:03:26WE MUST, AND WE SHALL BE GOOD
00:03:30STEWARDS. YEAR AFTER YEAR, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS WERE FUNNELED TO LHASA WITH LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ZERO
00:03:34RESULTS.
00:03:37THE LA CONTINUUM OF CARE, LED BY LHASA, HAD RECEIVED $1 BILLION IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS OVER THE
00:03:40LAST FIVE YEARS.
00:03:43THAT'S $1 BILLION OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WITH NO
00:03:46ACCOUNTABILITY AND ZERO RESULTS.
00:03:51AND DESPITE RECEIVING MORE FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS FUNDING THAN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN OUR NATION, LA REMAINS THE EPICENTER OF THE NATION'S DURING
00:03:55THAT SAME DECADE THAT
00:04:07HOMELESSNESS IN L.A. DOUBLED
00:04:15AND HUD FUNDING TO L.A. NEARLY TRIPLED. HOW MANY KNOW THAT'S A PROBLEM? FUNDING DOUBLED OF HOMELESSNESS
00:04:19TRIPLED.
00:04:21WE GOTTA RUN A NEW PLAY. THAT PLAY DOES NOT WORK.
00:04:27THEY CANNOT VERIFY THE EXISTENCE OF 2300 HOUSING UNITS, THAT IT
00:04:29WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
00:04:33IN AUGUST OF 2023, THEY CANNOT EVEN DETERMINE WHETHER THEY USED
00:04:36FUNDING TO PAY FOR MD HOTEL ROOMS BECAUSE IT FAILED TO
00:04:40RECORD WHEN INDIVIDUALS EXITED MOTEL HOUSING.
00:04:43MOST EGREGIOUS, THE AGENCY'S
00:04:48FORMER CEO WHO HAS RESIGNED, SHE
00:04:50RESIGNED AFTER LAHSA VIOLATED
00:04:54THE FEDERAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST RULES BY COMMITTING MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL
00:04:58FUNDS TO HER HUSBAND'S EMPLOYEE.
00:05:01THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY.
00:05:04WE CANNOT STAND FOR THAT ANY LONGER. THE NUMBERS DO NOT ADD UP.
00:05:10THE ORGANIZATION WITH TASK OF HOMELESSNESS AND EQUIPMENT OF
00:05:13BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHAMELESSLY WASTED ON CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT WHEN THEY SHOULD
00:05:17HAVE FOUGHT TO GET THE MOST VULNERABLE AMERICAN PEOPLE OFF
00:05:20THE STREETS AND TRANSFORM.
00:05:22BUT AS GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER
00:05:24DOLLARS, WE WILL CUT LAHSA FROM RECEIVING ANOTHER DOLLAR.
00:05:28WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THIS ABUSE.
00:05:31UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND VICE PRESIDENT VANCE, WE ARE ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION AND ENSURING
00:05:35THOSE WHO NEED CARE ARE TRULY GOING TO GET IT.
00:05:39THE DAYS OF CORRUPT FAILURE ARE OVER.
00:05:42THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT FUND THE HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX ANY LONGER.
00:05:46AT HUD, WE ARE ONLY INTERESTED
00:05:47IN REAL RESULTS, AND THAT IS
00:05:51HELPING OUR FELLOW AMERICANS GET OFF THE STREETS, OUT OF
00:05:54ADDICTION, AND ON THE PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE WITH YOU
00:05:58ALL TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY
00:06:01COLLEAGUE AND BROTHER, SECRETARY OF HHS, MR. BOBBY KENNEDY. [APPLAUSE]
00:06:11SECRETARY KENNEDY: THANK YOU.
00:06:14THANK YOU, SECRETARY TURNER, AND
00:06:18THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US HERE
00:06:20TODAY FOR TAKING THE TIME TO
00:06:23GIVE US A TOUR OF THE FACILITY.
00:06:28I JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY FACILITY.
00:06:34FROM WHAT WE ARE DOING ALL
00:06:35ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE FROM ALL OVER THE
00:06:40COUNTRY, 6000 KIDS A YEAR
00:06:46HELPING BUILD THIS PLACE, TO
00:06:50DESTROY THE ROOMS, TO RENOVATE,
00:06:54TO SERVE MEALS, TO PARTICIPATE.
00:06:57IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY
00:07:00ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THE COST, I
00:07:04WAS TOLD, FOR EACH PERSON HERE,
00:07:10600 MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE HOMELESS AND ARE REBUILDING
00:07:13THEIR LIVES, IT COST ABOUT 7005
00:07:18HUNDRED DOLLARS PER YEAR, PER INDIVIDUAL.
00:07:21MEANWHILE, L.A. COUNTY CAN DO
00:07:25THE SAME THING, TAKE A HOMELESS PERSON OF THE STREET AND INTO
00:07:29HOUSING FOR $185,000 A YEAR.
00:07:35ENTERING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE WHITE HOUSE
00:07:39MADE THE DECISION THAT MY AGENCY
00:07:43AND SCOTT'S AGENCY COULD NO
00:07:45LONGER GIVE MONEY TO FAITH-BASED
00:07:49ORGANIZATIONS AND ALSO TO CUT
00:07:52OFF FUNDING TO FAITH-BASED
00:07:54ORGANIZATIONS.
00:07:59ALL THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN LOS ANGELES, INCLUDING ADAM
00:08:01SCHIFF ACROSS THE STATE WERE TELLING PEOPLE TO GO TO THE
00:08:04DREAM CENTER TO GET MEALS, AND
00:08:07THE REAL BURDEN HERE, $1000 A
00:08:12DAY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLACE ELSE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.
00:08:14A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE JOBS
00:08:18OR HOMES. AND WHEN THEY WENT TO THE
00:08:21GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, MY AGENCY
00:08:26TOLD THEM, WE CANNOT HELP YOU
00:08:28BECAUSE YOU ARE A FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION.
00:08:30IT MADE NO SENSE, AND WE HAVE
00:08:32NOT CHANGED THAT AND PUT FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS FRONT
00:08:36AND CENTER AS THEY ARE DOING
00:08:40BETTER THAN THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO.
00:08:42IF THEY ARE DOING IT AT 1/10 OF
00:08:44THE PRICE AND WITH SUCCESS WITH
00:08:47THEIR CLIENTS, THEY ARE DOING IT
00:08:50BETTER THAN US. AND WE NEED TO START RECOGNIZING THAT.
00:08:54I LEFT -- I LIVED IN THE CITY
00:08:59THE PAST 11 YEARS, I WATCHED THE
00:09:02DECLINE, THE HOMELESS POPULATION EXPLODE.
00:09:09I'VE BEEN TO THIS BUILDING,
00:09:12RECOVERY MEETINGS, AND I'VE SEEN THE INCOMPETENCE OF GOVERNMENT
00:09:16THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE
00:09:18PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOW REACHED RECORD
00:09:21LEVELS IN RECENT YEARS AND HALF
00:09:26ALMOST ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE IN CALIFORNIA.
00:09:30MORE THAN 750,000 AMERICANS WHO
00:09:33ARE HOMELESS ACCORDING TO HEAD'S
00:09:35LATEST STATISTICS AND THE NUMBER
00:09:40OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE MANY.
00:09:41THERE ARE MANY CAUSES FOR HOMELESSNESS.
00:09:45THE MOST IMPORTANT, THE COST OF HOUSING, AND THE REGULATORY
00:09:49BURDEN, MENTAL ILLNESS,
00:09:53ADDICTION ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO IT.
00:09:54AND ALSO THOSE PROBLEMS BECOME
00:09:59MUCH WORSE. WE CANNOT ADDRESS THIS WITHOUT
00:10:02CONFRONTING ADDICTION AND THAT
00:10:06IS WITH THIS FACILITY DOES. AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE FUNDING
00:10:10PROGRAMS WITHOUT DEMANDING EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE HELPING PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREET AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
00:10:17IT IS CLEAR TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO
00:10:21EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, RECOVERY, SUPPORT, SAFER HOUSING, AND A PATH TO INDEPENDENCE.
00:10:26IT REQUIRES HHS AND HUD DEFINED
00:10:32FIND SYSTEMS THAT REQUIRES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO KNOW WHERE
00:10:35THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE GOING AND WHETHER THEY ARE PRODUCING RESULTS.
00:10:43THEY STEAL RESOURCES FROM THE
00:10:44TAXPAYER, AND THEY'RE ALSO STEALING FROM PEOPLE WHO
00:10:48ACTUALLY ARE ENTITLED TO END NEEDED SERVICES.
00:10:54RECOVERY AND HOUSING CANNOT END UP IN THE HANDS OF FRAUDSTERS
00:10:58AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT FAIL THE
00:11:01PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE TO HELP.
00:11:03PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DIRECTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO STOP THAT
00:11:07ABUSE. IN HHS ALONE, WE HAVE UNCOVERED NEARLY $100 MILLION IN FRAUD.
00:11:13WE HAVE SAVED MORE THAN 40 600
00:11:17BILLION, AND WE ARE NOT FINISHED .
00:11:20IN MINNESOTA RECENTLY, SCOTT
00:11:24GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEBODY WHO
00:11:27WAS STEALING THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS INTENDED FOR THESE POPULATIONS, AND LIVING IN
00:11:32BEVERLY HILLS, IN MINNESOTA TWO
00:11:37MONTHS AGO, THE MEDICAID PROGRAM
00:11:43THAT WAS INTENDED TO HELP VULNERABLE PEOPLE OBTAIN HOUSING
00:11:47, THE PRICE OF THE PROGRAM ROSE
00:11:50FROM $2.6 MILLION IN EXPECTED
00:11:51ANNUAL COST TO MORE THAN 100
00:11:57MILLION A YEAR DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS BECAUSE THE MONEY WAS NOT
00:12:01BEING MONITORED, AND IT WAS BEING STOLEN.
00:12:06IN ONE INSTANCE, PEOPLE BUYING
00:12:10FANCY CARS AND HOMES WITH MONEY THAT WAS INTENDED FOR HOMELESS
00:12:14PEOPLE, AND THAT PROGRAM AS A
00:12:20DIRECT RESULT, WAS FOR PEOPLE
00:12:24WHO SUFFERED DISABILITIES. PEOPLE WHO ARE ELDERLY AND SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION.
00:12:29A LONG WAITING LIST TO GET INTO THAT PROGRAM, AND THAT PROGRAM
00:12:31HAS NOW BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE OF
00:12:35THE COST OF THE FRAUD.
00:12:37THAT IS A DIRECT IMPACT ON
00:12:42PEOPLE WHO NEED THESE SERVICES.
00:12:45IT COMES FROM THE FRAUD.
00:12:50THIS IS WHAT OVERSIGHT REQUIRES.
00:12:53EVERY DOLLAR LOST IN FRAUD IS A DOLLAR THAT DOES NOT HELP
00:12:56SOMEONE WHO NEEDS CARE, TREATMENT, AND STABLE HOUSING.
00:13:00IT MUST SHOW THAT THE PAYMENTS
00:13:04ARE LEGITIMATE OR WE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY THEM ANYMORE.
00:13:08MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN
00:13:12UNDER PREDECESSORS AND DE
00:13:16BLASIO. WHEN HE CAME INTO MY AGENCY,
00:13:19ONLY 80 PEOPLE IN PROGRAM, FOR
00:13:2550 STATES AND FIVE TERRITORIES.
00:13:28THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ANDRIY
00:13:29$2.2 TRILLION ANNUALLY --
00:13:33HONORING $2.2 TRILLION ANNUALLY,
00:13:37WE DO 4 MILLION TRANSACTIONS A DAY. THERE ARE ONLY 80 PEOPLE LOOKING AT THOSE.
00:13:42ANDY BECERRA CAME IN AND
00:13:45TRANSFERRED 76 OF THEM.
00:13:47WHEN I CAME IN, ONLY SIX PEOPLE
00:13:50WHO WERE IN CHARGE OF ALL THE PROGRAMS FROM OUR DEPARTMENT,
00:13:53AND IT WAS AN INVITATION FOR THE
00:13:57FRAUDSTERS TO COME AND STEAL EVERYTHING.
00:13:59THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM
00:14:05, WE'VE CLOSE THOUSANDS OF HOSPICES HERE IN LOS ANGELES.
00:14:07BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE PATIENTS, THEY WERE JUST BILLING
00:14:11US SIX THOUSAND A MONTH FOR FAULTY ACCOUNTS.
00:14:17AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FRAUD, TENS OF BILLIONS HERE IN LOS ANGELES.
00:14:22TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, ALL STOLEN BECAUSE NOBODY WAS
00:14:26MINDING THE STORE.
00:14:29ANDY BECERRA CAME IN, AND HE
00:14:32INSTITUTED A PROGRAM CALLED PAY
00:14:36AND CHASE. WITH THAT MEANS IS WHEN WE GET
00:14:38AN INVOICE FROM A HOSPICE, WE
00:14:43KNOW IT IS FRAUDULENT. WE KNOW THAT HOSPICE IS NOT
00:14:47TREATING PATIENTS.
00:14:50THEY HAVE BEEN BESTED BEFORE. WE HAVE ALGORITHMS THAT CAN
00:14:53IDENTIFY THIS IS ALMOST CERTAINLY FRAUDULENT.
00:14:56HIS POLICY WAS YOU PAY THEM AND
00:15:01THEN YOU CHASE IT. YOU GO BACK AND TRY TO CLAW IT
00:15:05BACK AND REACH A PORTION OF WHATEVER HAPPENS.
00:15:08THIS WAS AN INSANE POLICY. WE SHUT THAT DOWN.
00:15:10WE NOW DON'T PAY ANYTHING WE SUSPECT TO BE FRAUDULENT, WE ARE
00:15:14USING AI, MACHINE COUNTING
00:15:18SYSTEMS, ALL KINDS OF ALGORITHMS TO DETERMINE WHEN PAYMENTS COME
00:15:22TO US, TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR
00:15:24NOT THEY ARE PROBABLY FRAUDULENT, AND WE HAVE STOPPED
00:15:28BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FRAUD BY DOING THAT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE
00:15:32BEEN DONE BY BECERRA, BUT HE LET
00:15:35THE PEOPLE STEAL THE MONEY, AND THAT IS MONEY THAT IS BEING
00:15:39STOLEN FROM THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. AT HHS, WE ARE STRENGTHENING
00:15:43OVERSIGHT BEFORE THE MANY MOVES.
00:15:46WE ARE BRINGING THAT SAME ACCOUNTABILITY TO OUR
00:15:49HOMELESSNESS ADDICTION AND
00:15:51SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH
00:15:55CRISIS RESPONSE, PREVENTION,
00:15:57MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
00:16:01TREATMENT RECOVERY SERVICE AND TREATMENT WITH COMMUNITY CARE
00:16:05AND HOUSING. THE THINGS THE DREAM CENTER DOES SO WELL. WE ARE EXPANDING ACCESS TO
00:16:10TREATMENT FROM A PROGRAM.
00:16:12WE HAVE PUT IN AN EXTRA $100
00:16:16MILLION WITH OUTREACH, TREATMENT, RECOVERY, SUPPORT AND
00:16:20HOUSING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
00:16:24THE OBJECTIVE IS NOT TO MANAGE
00:16:26HOMELESSNESS INDEFINITELY, IT IS TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE OUT OF
00:16:30HOMELESSNESS AND INTO PRODUCTIVE
00:16:33LIVES AND HAVE A CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY.
00:16:39COMPASSION REQUIRES US TO ASK IF
00:16:39THE PROGRAM WORKS, AND WHETHER
00:16:43THOSE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING HEALTHIER AND SAFER AND MORE
00:16:47INDEPENDENT. WE SHOULD MEASURE SUCCESS NOT BY HOW MUCH WASHINGTON SPENDS BUT
00:16:51BY WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS.
00:16:56MORE PEOPLE RECEIVING EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, MORE PEOPLE IN
00:17:00SUSTAINED RECOVERY, AND MORE
00:17:04AMERICANS WHO ARE REGAINING STABLE AND INDEPENDENT LIVES.
00:17:07AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND HOW IT GOES TOGETHER.
00:17:12EVERY DOLLAR WE SAVE IS
00:17:17PRESERVED FOR ITS LAWFUL PURPOSE AND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER.
00:17:24THE WHITE HOUSE FRAUD TASK FORCE ON THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION
00:17:28WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE
00:17:29MONEY, DEMAND PROOF, AND HOLD
00:17:32ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE WILL
00:17:36ALSO CONTINUE TO REWARD AND RECOGNIZE FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS LIKE THIS WILL THAT ARE DOING
00:17:38SUCH A GOOD JOB AT MANAGING OUR
00:17:41MONEY AT WAYS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE. AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
00:17:45WORK WITH HUD TO FUND PROGRAMS
00:17:48THAT GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET
00:17:49AND INTO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY
00:17:53AND ON THAT PATH TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. SECRETARY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
00:17:58LEADERSHIP, YOUR PARTNERSHIP, AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
00:18:02NOW I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GO TO QUESTIONS.
00:18:06>> WE HAVE GOT 10 MINUTES.
00:18:10PLEASE KEEP QUESTIONS ON TOPIC.
00:18:14WE WILL COME TO YOU.
00:18:16>> THANK YOU.
00:18:21HALEY GOMEZ'S WITH THE LINCOLN MEDIA FOUNDATION. WHAT SPECIFIC REFORMS IS HUD
00:18:24LOOKING FOR, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO
00:18:28RESTORE THAT MANY, OR IS IT GOING TO BE REALLOCATED TO CENTERS LIKE THE DREAM CENTER?
00:18:32>> WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS
00:18:37REALLY WITH PLACES LIKE THE DREAM CENTER THAT A
00:18:41RESULTS-ORIENTED, THAT HAVE A
00:18:43TRUE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
00:18:47THE DREAM CENTER DOES NOT RECEIVE FUNDING.
00:18:50IT IS ABOUT FRIENDS, FAMILIES,
00:18:53WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS WHAT YOU SEE HERE, TO BRING SOMEONE IN. IT IS IN THE NAME.
00:18:57BRING THEM IN, HOW IS THEM, ASK
00:19:00WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM. WHY ARE THEY HOMELESS?
00:19:04DRUG ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESS. TO TREAT THAT AND THEY GET THEM
00:19:08HEALED AND TRANSFORMED AND OUT TO A LIFE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
00:19:11IT IS A DIFFERENT PARADIGM. IT IS NOT JUST HOUSING.
00:19:15IT IS NOT HOUSING FIRST. IT IS THE CONTINUATION OF CARING
00:19:18FOR MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF
00:19:23THE STREETS, GET THEM HERE, GET WRAPAROUND SERVICES AROUND THEM
00:19:27AND GET THEM TRANSFORMED BACK TO A LIFE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
00:19:31WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BEST PARTNERS IN ORDER TO DO THAT. THAT IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP OVER
00:19:35TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
00:19:36>> YOU MENTIONED LAHSA, CAN YOU
00:19:42SPEAK TO WHETHER FUNDING WILL BE IMMEDIATELY CUT OR WHAT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN?
00:19:46>> WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
00:19:50AS I SAID BEFORE, OUR AIM IS
00:19:54THAT IT IS NOT RECEIVE ANOTHER DOLLAR UNTIL THERE IS
00:19:57ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY,
00:20:00AND THE RIGHT PARTNERS HAVE TO COME ALONG FOR US TO WORK, BUT
00:20:04THIS IS THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLAR.
00:20:07EVERYBODY HERE, THE MEDIA, THE PRESS AND OTHERS, WE WORK HARD
00:20:10FOR THE MONEY THAT GOD BLESSED
00:20:12US WITH TO DO OUR JOBS, AND
00:20:16LAHSA HAS NOT BEEN FAITHFUL STEWARDS OVER AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THERE IS CORRUPTION, SO WE HAD TO END THAT.
00:20:21>> JAMIE PAGE FROM CALIFORNIA
00:20:26POST. YOU MENTIONED PATH AND THE RAMADA NAME.
00:20:29WE HAVE NOT HEARD SPECIFICS ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION. CAN YOU GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT
00:20:33THAT? >> NO DETAILS AT THIS MOMENT.
00:20:37WHAT I SAID IS THAT TO THIS DAY,
00:20:39AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK, THAT THAT
00:20:41RAMADA INN IS STILL EMPTY.
00:20:45THEY RECEIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
00:20:46AND 2021, FIVE YEARS AGO,
00:20:50BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO CONVERT THIS TO HELP HOMELESS NEIGHBORS, AND IT IS STILL EMPTY.
00:20:54WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT.
00:20:57>> PETE, LOS ANGELES.
00:21:02NEITHER ONE OF YOU GENTLEMEN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE PERCENTAGE OF GOVERNMENTAL
00:21:06PROGRAMS THAT ARE ASSISTING IN GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESSNESS ARE EFFICIENTLY
00:21:09DOING THE WORK AND DO YOU REALISTICALLY THINK THERE ARE
00:21:14ENOUGH FAITH-BASED PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE DREAM CENTER THAT COULD PICK UP THE SLACK OF
00:21:17GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ARE FAILING IN THE JOB?
00:21:19>> YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO
00:21:24PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT BOBBY SAID. THE DREAM CENTER IS A TREMENDOUS
00:21:27EXAMPLE OF THAT. I'VE BEEN TO ABOUT NINE OR 10
00:21:31FAITH-BASED ENTITIES THAT HELP
00:21:33HER HOMELESS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AROUND THE COUNTRY
00:21:37THAT ARE DOING TREMENDOUS WORK THAT HAVE REAL RESULTS.
00:21:40THAT IS WHAT HUD IS ABOUT.
00:21:42WE ARE ABOUT FUNDING RESULTS, NOT JUST THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN
00:21:46BEDS BUT GETTING OUT OF
00:21:50HOMELESSNESS AND BACK TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. YES, I BELIEVE THAT AS WE BRING
00:21:55BACK THE FAITH-BASED ENTITIES TO
00:21:57THE TABLE BECAUSE REMEMBER, BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT STARTED
00:22:01HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE, FAITH-BASED ENTITIES DID IT A
00:22:04LONG TIME AGO AND DID A TREMENDOUS JOB. THERE ARE OTHERS AROUND OUR
00:22:08COUNTRY HELPING OUT IN BALTIMORE
00:22:11AND OTHER DREAM CENTERS AND OTHER UNION RESCUE MISSIONS THAT
00:22:14ARE FAITH-BASED THAT ARE ACTUALLY HELPING AMERICAN PEOPLE
00:22:18THAT ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS. DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING?
00:22:19>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY
00:22:25LIMIT TO WHAT THESE FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS CAN DO.
00:22:27YOU LOOK AT THIS, 450,000 SQUARE
00:22:32FEET, HUNDREDS OF ROOMS IN IT THAT HAVE ALL BEEN RENOVATED.
00:22:38THIS WAS A TINY LITTLE CORNER
00:22:40CHURCH WAS NO MONEY.
00:22:43WHEN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS
00:22:46SELLING THIS TO SOMEBODY, THEY HAD PROPOSALS FROM HOLLYWOOD,
00:22:50THE STUDIOS.
00:22:53POWERFUL PEOPLE. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS. THEY ALL WANTED TO GET INTO THIS FACILITY.
00:22:58AND THE CHURCH WAS MISSION DRIVEN.
00:23:05LIKE WHAT THE PASTOR IS TALKING ABOUT, EVEN THOUGH HE DOESN'T
00:23:08HAVE ANY CAPACITY TO DO THIS, HE
00:23:12HAS A MISSION AND INTEGRITY AND
00:23:14ENERGY, AND THEY CAME IN HERE,
00:23:17AND THEY DON'T TURN ANYBODY AWAY.
00:23:20EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME HERE GETS THE SPOT.
00:23:24AND THEY HAVE HELPED THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
00:23:29AT A TINY FRACTION OF THE COST
00:23:34L.A. COUNTY IS PAYING FOR ITS PROGRAMS, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THEY WORK.
00:23:38SO I THINK THE MORE AND MORE THE
00:23:44GOVERNMENT IS SMART ABOUT LOOKING AT THESE PROGRAMS,
00:23:46LOOKING AT A TRACK RECORD LIKE
00:23:49THIS, AND COMING TO FACILITIES LIKE THIS AND SAYING, HOW CAN WE
00:23:51HELP YOU REPLICATE THIS, HOW CAN
00:23:56WE HELP YOU EXPAND THIS?
00:24:00YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THING TO HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THAT IS HOW WE ARE
00:24:04GOING TO GET TO THE SOLUTION. NOT BY THROWING MORE MONEY AT THE PROBLEM.
00:24:09BUT FINDING WHAT IS WORKING AND THEN SUPPORTING IT.
00:24:17>> SEC. KENNEDY, HOMELESSNESS
00:24:20CONTINUES TO BE THE NUMBER ONE
00:24:23ISSUE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, THE MAYORAL ELECTION.
00:24:27JUST CURIOUS IF YOU ARE STILL REGISTERED TO VOTE IN LOS ANGELES?
00:24:31HAVE YOU FOLLOWED THE DEBATE BETWEEN THE INCUMBENT MAYOR, AND
00:24:34IF YOU PLAN ON VOTING, AND JUST TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS?
00:24:37>> I'M IN A STRANGE POSITION
00:24:41BECAUSE WHEN I RAN FOR PRESIDENT
00:24:47, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUED ME TO GET ME OFF THE BALLOT IN 12
00:24:51STATES, INCLUDING NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA.
00:24:56AND THEN WHEN I ENDORSE
00:24:57PRESIDENT TRUMP, THEY SUED ME TO
00:25:01KEEP ME ON THE BALLOT IN THOSE SAME STATES.
00:25:06IN THE COURSE OF ONE OF THE LAWSUITS, IT WAS DECLARED I HAD
00:25:10NO LEGAL RESIDENCE.
00:25:13I'M IN A DILEMMA WHERE I
00:25:17LITERALLY HAVE NO STATE WHERE I CAN LEGALLY VOTE RIGHT NOW. I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON IN
00:25:20THE COUNTRY WHO IS A LEGAL
00:25:25CITIZEN WHO HAS THAT DILEMMA. I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION.
00:25:28[LAUGHTER]
00:25:32>> DOUG SMITH FROM THE LOS
00:25:36ANGELES TIMES. IN LIGHT OF JUDGE MICHAEL
00:25:40WRIGHT'S DECISION TO SET ASIDE THE 2026 NOTICE OF FUNDING
00:25:45OPPORTUNITY, WILL YOU GIVE THE LOS ANGELES CONTINUUM OF CARE 45
00:25:49DAYS TO FIND A NEW COLLABORATIVE APPLICANT?
00:25:51>> THANK YOU.
00:25:54ONE THING I WILL SAY IS WE ARE COMMITTED TO REFORMS.
00:25:58INCLUDING IN OUR 2026 COC HEALTH
00:26:03BECAUSE THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL IS A FAILED MODEL.
00:26:06WE ARE COMMITTED TO REFORMS WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD.
00:26:09IT IS A SHAME THAT IDEOLOGY,
00:26:15POLITICS HAVE PLAYED INTO SERVING AMERICA'S MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
00:26:18WE WANT GOOD PARTNERS TO COME TO
00:26:21THE TABLE, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH
00:26:24PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME TO US TO
00:26:27ACTUALLY GET THE WORK DONE.
00:26:30I'VE BEEN HERE MULTIPLE TIMES. I'VE BEEN ON SKID ROW MULTIPLE TIMES.
00:26:34I'VE BEEN TO THE DREAM CENTER.
00:26:38AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BILLIONS IN CALIFORNIA, BEING
00:26:40USED TO BUILD THE HOUSING
00:26:44INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AND THEN WE HAVE JUDGES WHO WANT TO PUT US
00:26:47IN LITIGATION, ALL OF THESE THINGS.
00:26:49WHEN I LOOK AT THIS -- I BROUGHT SOMETHING. I WANT TO SHOW EVERYBODY.
00:26:53THIS IS A BAG THAT I LEARNED
00:26:56THEY ARE GIVING OUR HOMELESS
00:26:58NEIGHBORS WITH AMERICAN TAXPAYER
00:27:02DOLLARS. AND IN THIS BAG, WE ARE TALKING
00:27:06ABOUT HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COUNTRY. A CONTINUUM OF CARE.
00:27:10THIS IS NOT A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR.
00:27:14THIS IS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA THAT IS IN THIS BAG.
00:27:18THIS BROWNBAG THAT IS HANDED TO
00:27:21PEOPLE, HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT ARE
00:27:24ADDICTED TO DRUGS, THAT HAVE
00:27:26MENTAL ILLNESS, HARD-WORKING
00:27:28PEOPLE'S MONEY, PEOPLE ARE PUTTING THESE TOGETHER WITH
00:27:31THEIR HANDS IT HAS EVERYTHING TO
00:27:41DO WITH CARING FOR PEOPLE PROPERLY.
00:27:44THIS IS NOT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE ARE LOOKING FOR.
00:27:47IT IS NOT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE BOBBY IS LOOKING FOR.
00:27:50THIS IS KEEPING PEOPLE ADDICTED,
00:27:54WOULD YOU ALL ALL AGREE? THAT HAS TO BE OVER.
00:27:58THAT IS DONE. THIS IS THEIR TOOLKIT THEY ARE GIVING OUT RIGHT NOW.
00:28:02BUT THE TOOLKIT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IS THE TOOLKIT
00:28:05THE RESTORATION AND REVITALIZATION.
00:28:08I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK WE ARE GOING TO DO.
00:28:13ANY VIABLE PARTY WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US IN THIS WORK TO DO WITH THE RIGHT WAY, WE WELCOME THEM.
00:28:19>> SECRETARY TURNER, WITH
00:28:25DISCOVERY INSTITUTE, TURNING POINT USA, THE FRAUD, WASTE AND
00:28:28ABUSE IS OBVIOUSLY PERVASIVE IN
00:28:31CALIFORNIA'S INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, BUT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE YOU NOW INVESTIGATING?
00:28:36IF YOU ARE NOT, WHEN WILL YOU START LOOKING AT SEATTLE AND
00:28:40WASHINGTON WHERE THE HOMELESS DRUG CRISIS IS OUT OF >> CONTROL?
00:28:43>>THANK YOU. -- CRISIS IS OUT OF CONTROL?
00:28:46>> THANK YOU. BOBBY DID ALLUDE TO THE TASK
00:28:50FORCE WE BOTH SIT ON AND WORK CLOSELY.
00:28:53OUR MULTIPLE CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
00:28:55MANY ARE MADE PUBLIC, AUSTIN,
00:28:58MINNESOTA, WASHINGTON STATE --
00:29:03BOSTON, MINNESOTA,
00:29:09WASHINGTON STATE. PEOPLE ARE BEING FRAUDSTERS, CRIMINALS AND USING AMERICAN
00:29:13TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THIS IS THE DAY AND
00:29:17AGE UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND BOBBY, MYSELF, ARE MEMBERS OF
00:29:21THE CABINET, THAT WE ARE NO LONGER GOING TO STAND FOR PEOPLE
00:29:23TO DEFRAUD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS TRANSCENDS POLITICS.
00:29:28THIS IS RIGHT AND WRONG. IT IS NOT JUST FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE.
00:29:32IT IS CORRUPTION AT ITS CORE.
00:29:35AND I BELIEVE GOD CALLED US TO
00:29:37THE SPOTS TO SERVE, LEAD, AND TO SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, BUT I
00:29:41BELIEVE HE ALSO CALLED US TO THE SPOTS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE
00:29:44VERY HARD TO COMBAT THE CORRUPTION.
00:29:48AND SHINE THE LIGHT ON CRIME.
00:29:50TO SHINE A LIGHT ON WASTE, ABUSE AND FRAUD.
00:29:54MY MOTHER HAS BEEN WORKING FOR 50 SOMETHING YEARS, VERY HARD.
00:29:58SHE'S NOT A RICH LADY. SHE BEEN POOR.
00:30:00AND I THINK ABOUT MY OWN MOTHER WHO WORKS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO
00:30:04TAKE CARE OF HERSELF AND TO BE A
00:30:07BLESSING TO OTHER PEOPLE. WHEN I SEE PEOPLE STEALING
00:30:11AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS, I THINK ABOUT MY MOTHER, MY
00:30:13FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, PASTOR
00:30:16MATT AND OTHERS, WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
00:30:18THIS IS A DAY AND AGE WHERE IT IS A DIFFERENT PLAYBOOK.
00:30:24BECAUSE THAT PLAYBOOK THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING, THAT IS A BAD PLAYBOOK.
00:30:28THERE ARE NEW PLAYS COMING.
00:30:30THESE PLAYS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL
00:30:33BY THE GRACE OF GOD FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS. [APPLAUSE]
00:30:47>> YOU ARE WATCHING C-SPAN,
00:30:51DEMOCRACY UNFILTERED.
00:31:09>> YOU LOOK BACK ON WHAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED, WHAT MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST SO FAR? >> THIS INTERVIEW IS THE APEX. >> LEADERS SEEM TO LIKE TO WEAR WIGS.
00:31:13HOW COME HE DID NOT? PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID I MADE A MISTAKE THE FIRST TIME, I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU THE FIRST TIME. >> THAT ISN'T WHAT HE SAID.
00:31:17>> YOUR FIRST BOOK WAS CALLED A TIME TO KILL BUT HOW MANY TURNED IT DOWN?
00:31:21>>
00:31:24>> WHEN GO TO THE DOES EVERYONE
00:31:29SAY THERE IS THE AUTHOR?
00:31:31>> THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE GO THIS WAY AND THEY HAVE ANOTHER PATH
00:31:35WHERE PEOPLE LIKE I GO.
00:31:36>> I INTERVIEWED A GUY WHO LIVED WITH WOLVES.
00:31:39>> IS THAT SAFE? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
00:31:42>> YOU ARE OPINIONATED ABOUT THE
00:31:46SITUATION, WHICH IS WHY WE LOVE YOU DAVID. [LAUGHTER] ♪
00:31:56>> C-SPAN'S WASHINGTON JOURNAL,