The County is conducting an evaluation to assess the collective impact of American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funds on achieving an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles County. To complete the evaluation, the County is working with consultants and a team of technical advisors to help County departments identify, collect, and report data for their individual project evaluations and to inform the overall Countywide report. The County is releasing a preliminary evaluation progress report followed by a final evaluation. Additionally, the County commissioned a Participatory Mapping study to better understand the experiences, needs, and barriers faced by non-geographically concentrated communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and other crises. Learn more about these efforts below.
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Evaluation
The County is conducting a two-phased evaluation process. The Preliminary Evaluation Progress Report released in early 2026 is designed to track early progress on implementation of ARP projects through September 2025. The Final Evaluation will be released in early 2027 and fully assess the data, lessons learned, and measurable improvements in the lives of County residents following the completion of all 116 ARP projects.
Participatory Mapping
Non-geographically concentrated communities refer to populations dispersed throughout the county and that are often excluded from place-based planning and service delivery models. The County commissioned a study to address critical data gaps and provide a more accurate understanding of how these communities live, work, gather, access services, and experience barriers to better respond to their needs.
Building Back Better Than Before: American Rescue Plan Success Stories
The COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for LA County and our residents. LA County operationalized the funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to build back better from the effects of the pandemic. This section spotlights the impact of ARP programs and stories provided by program participants. These highlights speak to the resiliency and strength of our community and adds another chapter to the collective story and legacy of Angelenos.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Los Angeles County tenants struggled to keep up with rent as illness, job losses, and reduced incomes caused unexpected and overwhelming financial hardships. Without support, many tenants faced the risk of eviction and housing instability, while landlords – especially those in high and highest need areas – faced the possibility of losing their rental properties, many of which have historically provided much of the affordable housing in their neighborhoods.
Delete The Divide staffed over 280 Technology Professional Interns from September 2022 to December 2024. Of this group of Interns, 140 reported being prepared to embark upon full-time work (those who were not enrolled in school), and 42 Technology Professional Interns were hired for full-time positions.
“The Dream Resource Center provides a lot of resources and…a sense of community that nowhere else on campus really does and no school that I’ve been to has before. I think that [the Center is] very centered on the needs of the students in the community. [It] opens up more space for tolerance. Like, there’s no tolerance for…bullying or discrimination…in the Centers. People are more tolerant of other people’s identities at the Center, and I feel that people are…more united. It just is like a big nice mixing pot for everyone.”
The Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) administers CalFresh, which is one of the largest food programs in Los Angeles County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many underprivileged groups, particularly those located in LA County’s highest-needs areas, had suffered from a long-term lack of regular access to nutritious foods. DPSS worked with 26 selected Community Based Organization (CBO) partners that utilized the grant to implement their outreach strategies to encourage utilizing public benefits and services through the CalFresh program. At the conclusion of the project, of the 1756 individuals served, 1019 individuals were approved for benefits, with over 700 (or 70%) of those approved individuals being new CalFresh customers.
“One of our CHW’s regularly encounters a community member who walks their grandkids to school [and] who is not vaccinated against COVID-19 due to COVID hesitancy. The community member was extremely nervous about getting her first vaccine because of misinformation. [She] believed that the vaccine would make her sick. CHWs invited her to one of their food distribution events where they passed out COVID-19 related resources such as informational flyers and antigen tests. One of the CHWs approached her and went through one of the flyers with her. The CHW listened to her worries and explained the vaccine in simple, reassuring terms. The CHW helped the community member sign up for an appointment the same day.”
“I gained the knowledge that no matter how sorry you’re feeling for yourself or how much you think of yourself as a failure, you can finish whatever you failed at the first time. I have a full-time job in welding currently, and now with my high school diploma, I can apply for better-paying jobs that require a diploma.”