The City of Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) gathered over 200 leaders from government, academia, philanthropy, and direct service sectors on March 2 to confront the region's affordability crisis. The 2026 Making LA Affordable for All: A Summit on Equity, Access, and Economic Stability focused on translating discussion into concrete action to address housing instability, economic insecurity, and widening wealth gaps affecting Angelenos.
"The Summit represents a critical turning point in how we confront poverty in Los Angeles," said CIFD General Manager Abigail R. Marquez. She referenced the City's 2024 Poverty Report that documented structural inequities, noting the current gathering aimed to build on that foundation through actionable commitments. With more than 600,000 Angelenos living in poverty and one in four Los Angeles County households experiencing food insecurity, the scale of the crisis demands urgent, coordinated response.
Keynote speaker Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize-winning sociologist and author of "Poverty, by America," brought national perspective to the local challenge. His research has reshaped conversations about economic justice and systemic inequities. Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the interconnected nature of housing instability, food insecurity, and wealth gaps, stating, "This Summit is about bringing together strong partnerships to turn commitment into action. Together, we will take decisive steps to expand opportunity and make Los Angeles more equitable for all."
The Summit featured panel discussions on policy reform to dismantle poverty, housing stability strategies, and economic development initiatives. Most significantly, it served as the platform for major structural announcements. The City revealed a consolidation of four departments—CIFD, Youth Development Department, Department of Aging, and Economic and Workforce Development Department—into a new Community Investment Department (CID). This reorganization aims to create a more coordinated and effective system of City services.
Equally important was the formal launch of the Office of Community Wealth and Empowerment, which will advance the City's financial empowerment initiatives through anti-poverty programs and policy. Los Angeles joins over 20 cities in a national network prioritizing municipal financial empowerment through partnership with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. The Office will house existing cash assistance and children's savings programs while implementing the Financial Empowerment Center model to provide free, professional financial counseling as a public service.
"Local governments have a critical role to play in building residents' financial stability," said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. "This Office of Community Wealth and Empowerment, with dedicated leadership, is more than the sum of important individual programs—it's a catalyst for truly embedding financial empowerment work across government." The Summit represents a pivotal moment for Los Angeles to align resources, break down institutional silos, and commit to measurable progress against systemic poverty.
