Sentinel Exclusive
Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Tomiquia Moss as Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH), bringing in a leader with more than 20 years of experience tackling housing and homelessness.
In an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, Moss shared her vision for addressing California’s housing crisis and advancing economic security for Black and marginalized communities.
Moss has dedicated her career to public service and advocacy. Before assuming her current role, she was the founder and CEO of All Home, a Bay Area organization committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Under her leadership, All Home created transformative regional housing and economic security plans, successfully advocated for state and local policy changes, and granted millions of dollars to nonprofit and government partners to prevent homelessness.
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Moss’s prior roles include serving as CEO of Hamilton Families, which provides emergency and permanent housing solutions in San Francisco. She also worked as chief of staff for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, as executive director of the HOPE SF Initiative under the late San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee, and as the founding project director of the San Francisco Community Justice Center.
“My work has always centered on creating real solutions that directly impact the lives of people who are most in need,” Moss told the Sentinel. “Housing is not just about shelter—it’s about dignity, opportunity, and justice.”
Following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Moss has found herself at the forefront of recovery efforts, overseeing a critical agency tasked with rebuilding lives and ensuring that displaced individuals do not fall through the cracks.
In an exclusive conversation, Sentinel Executive Editor Danny Bakewell underscored the gravity of her position.
“Secretary Moss, you’re overseeing such an important and critical component. Nothing happens in California without referencing this agency. When things go right, you get the accolades, but when it goes wrong, they’re looking to lay blame. But I know you’re up to the task,” Bakewell emphasized.
One of the most pressing issues facing Los Angeles’ homelessness system is the Time-Limited Subsidy (TLS) program. Many individuals who have been moved from encampments into interim housing find themselves unable to transition to permanent housing due to a lack of coordination between case workers and available resources.
L.A. Sentinel: Right now, we are in a state where people have been moved from encampments into interim housing thanks to programs like Inside Safe. But there’s a major issue—people are getting stuck in interim housing due to problems with TLS. What’s being done to address this?
Tomiquia Moss: The fundamental challenge is that we don’t have enough housing for everyone who needs it. The state’s goal is to produce 2.5 million permitted homes over the next 10 years. We had a housing shortage before the wildfires, and now we have even more demand.
The TLS program is administered by LAHSA, the city, and the county, and when those subsidies end, there often aren’t enough homes for people to transition into. Our goal is to help increase the number of permanent supportive housing units while also expanding interim housing options.
LAS: So people are applying for housing, going through the process, getting approved, but then they’re not getting matched with TLS, causing delays. What is happening?
TM: I need to look into this specific challenge in Los Angeles. Typically, when someone completes their TLS period, they should be provided with a voucher or another pathway to permanent housing. The TLS program is federally funded, meaning it’s not set by local laws but through HUD and other federal sources. The subsidy is designed as a transition, not a permanent fix. If people are getting stuck in interim housing without a match, we need to assess where the breakdown is happening.
LAS: Beyond housing, how do you see your role impacting Black communities across California, especially in places like Oakland, Richmond, and Los Angeles?
TM: I know firsthand the impact that housing insecurity and economic instability have on Black communities. We have been disproportionately affected by systemic housing discrimination and displacement.
My role is to ensure that our policies center on equity—expanding affordable housing, increasing homeownership opportunities for Black families, and making sure our community organizations are part of the decision-making process. We need to break the cycle of displacement and create sustainable pathways to housing security.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) has acknowledged the growing demand for TLS and has taken steps to address capacity concerns. A representative from LAHSA provided the Sentinel with a statement:
“Over the last three years, people experiencing homelessness moved into permanent housing using a Time-Limited Subsidy (TLS) nearly 14,000 times. This makes the program one of the most successful and popular programs in LA’s rehousing system. As TLS use has grown, so has the need for greater capacity. To meet the current demand, LAHSA has taken action steps like partnering with Santa Monica City College to offer scholarships to students for a certificate program in homeless services. LAHSA will continue to look for innovative ways to expand provider capacity so we can bring more people home.”
With Los Angeles facing an emergency housing crisis exacerbated by wildfires and an already strained homelessness system, Moss and her agency have a formidable challenge ahead. However, with her expertise, leadership, and a commitment to racial and economic justice, she is determined to push forward.
“We need it all—interim housing, prevention programs, and more permanent supportive housing,” Moss emphasized.
“This is a complex issue, but my team and I are working closely with our partners to make sure we don’t leave people behind.”
As Los Angeles navigates these challenges, the Los Angeles Sentinel will continue to provide updates on the state’s efforts to address homelessness and housing equity under Secretary Tomiquia Moss’ leadership.
