The City of Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department convened more than 200 leaders from across sectors on March 2 to address the poverty and affordability crisis driving housing instability, economic insecurity, and widening wealth gaps. The 2026 Making LA Affordable for All summit brought together government agencies, elected offices, academia, philanthropy, and direct service organizations at The California Endowment to advance bold solutions and secure concrete commitments. CIFD General Manager Abigail R. Marquez stated that the Summit represents a critical turning point in how the city confronts poverty, noting that the 2024 City's Poverty Report laid bare structural inequities driving economic hardship.
More than 600,000 Angelenos live in poverty, and one in four Los Angeles County households experiences food insecurity, underscoring the scale and urgency of the crisis. The Summit featured keynote remarks from Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize-winning sociologist and author of "Poverty, by America," whose research has reshaped the national conversation on poverty and economic justice. Mayor Karen Bass, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and several councilmembers emphasized the City's commitment to creating opportunities for economic stability. Mayor Bass highlighted how housing instability, food insecurity, and widening wealth gaps are interconnected, requiring an equally connected response.
Panel discussions focused on advancing policy reform to dismantle poverty, strengthening housing stability across Los Angeles, and aligning economic development with living-wage opportunities. The Summit served as the platform for several significant announcements, including a major city consolidation. The Community Investment for Families Department, Youth Development Department, Department of Aging, and Economic and Workforce Development Department will form a new Community Investment Department to create a more coordinated, accessible, and effective system of city services.
Also announced was the formal launch of the Office of Community Wealth and Empowerment, which will advance the City's commitment to financial empowerment through anti-poverty programs and policy. Through a partnership with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, the City will receive funding and advisory support for the framework and launch. The Office will house existing cash assistance and children's savings initiatives and implement the Financial Empowerment Center model, providing free, professional, one-on-one financial counseling as a public service.
Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, emphasized that local governments have a critical role in building residents' financial stability, describing the Office of Community Wealth and Empowerment as a catalyst for embedding financial empowerment work across government. The Summit represents a critical moment for Los Angeles to align resources, break down silos, and commit to measurable progress against poverty and affordability challenges that affect hundreds of thousands of residents daily.
