Cheri Todoroff Named Interim Executive Director of Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative

Cheri Todoroff, director of community programs at the L.A. Department of Health Services, has been named interim head of the county’s Homeless Initiative, according to a statement released Wednesday.

Todoroff will succeed Phil Ansell, who will retire on March 31.

Todoroff will assume the post on April 1.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to continue serving Los Angeles County and its residents, especially those who are the most vulnerable, and look forward to continued progress as the county and its partners work collaboratively to address the humanitarian crisis facing us on the streets,” Todoroff said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an even greater urgency to our efforts, and we are working diligently to address the crisis at a scale never seen before. I am committed to building upon the unprecedented work of the County and its partners to help those in great need,” she said.

Todoroff currently serves as director of community programs at DHS, where she oversees the Housing for Health Program.

Previously, she served as director of Housing for Health. She has been with the county for 32 years.

The Homeless Initiative was launched by the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 17, 2015. Since then, the initiative has been on the forefront of the county’s battle against homelessness, including the voter-approved Measure H in March 2017.

“The county is extremely fortunate that a leader of Cheri Todoroff’s stature will take the helm at the county’s groundbreaking Homeless Initiative following the retirement of Phil Ansell as the initiative’s inaugural director,” said L.A. County CEO Fesia Davenport.

“She combines detailed knowledge of the countywide homeless services system, tremendous expertise, and a vast network of relationships which will enable her to seamlessly lead the Homeless Initiative through the end of the current pandemic and beyond,” Davenport said.

“The heart of the Homeless Initiative has been broad-based collaboration since its inception. Cheri will sustain this focus on collaboration among county departments, homeless service providers, cities, faith organizations, academia, philanthropy, business, and countless others,” Davenport said.