Los Angeles Homelessness Service Executive Receives $1.6 Million Compensation While Living Remote
Los Angeles, Thursday, 6 August 2026.
A Los Angeles non-profit funded almost entirely by taxpayers paid its remote Hawaii-based executive $1.6 million over two years, sparking fierce criticism over municipal funding oversight.
Compensation Disclosure and Timeline
On Thursday, 6 August 2026, disclosures revealed that the 1736 Family Crisis Center, a prominent Los Angeles homelessness service provider, paid its chief executive over $1.6 million in total compensation across the 2023 and 2024 tax years [1][2]. The organization, which operates 16 facilities in Los Angeles and Orange counties, generates approximately $15 million in annual revenue, with 94% derived from government-funded taxpayer dollars [1][2]. The executive, Carol Adelkoff, has held the role since 1984 and resides full-time in Hawaii, a arrangement that has sparked scrutiny over municipal funding oversight and non-profit fiscal management [1][2]. This revelation comes amidst growing tensions between municipal agencies and private contractors managing public funds aimed at addressing urban housing crises [1].
Breakdown of Salary and Vacation Payouts
According to tax filings, Adelkoff received $907,923 in 2023 and $742,181 in 2024, totaling 1.650 million in compensation over the two-year period [1][2]. While Adelkoff states her base salary has remained approximately $405,000 annually, the spikes in compensation were attributed to payouts for unused vacation time accrued over her 40-year tenure to reduce the nonprofit’s financial liability [1][2]. Specifically, approximately $824,000 of the total compensation over the two years was designated as vacation payout, with the organization’s attorney noting that the 2024 tax filing is being adjusted to specify that $329,243 of Adelkoff’s 2024 earnings was a vacation payout [1]. The nonprofit’s board allowed Adelkoff to accrue vacation time without the caps imposed on other employees, a practice described by experts as highly unusual [1][2].
Peer Comparison and Market Rates
The compensation package significantly exceeds industry standards, as the median annual compensation for executive leaders at 16 comparable Los Angeles County nonprofits is $159,737 [1]. For context, the next highest earner among similar services was the CEO of Jewish Family Service LA, who earned $423,932 in 2024, while leaders at larger organizations such as the Weingart Center Association earned $481,271 in 2024 [1]. In 2023, the CEO of the 1736 Family Crisis Center received nearly $1 million in total compensation, while the nonprofit’s revenue was $13 million, marking a substantial portion of organizational resources directed toward executive pay [1]. The finance director was the next highest-paid employee within the organization, with a salary of $206,000 in 2023, highlighting the disparity in internal compensation structures [1][2].
Governance and Oversight Concerns
Questions regarding board governance have arisen, particularly concerning Board President Ron Troupe, who has served for at least 25 years and has received an annual salary ranging from $30,000 to $97,500 since 2005, a practice experts describe as atypical for volunteer-based boards [1]. Nonprofit industry standards typically dictate that boards consist entirely of volunteers, with paid positions reserved for full-time employees like the CEO, according to nonprofit experts [1]. Former IRS division head Marc Owens noted that if similar organizations are paying less, regulators would be interested in what the board looked at when assessing reasonable compensation [1]. Additionally, Adelkoff has resided in Hawaii for at least 11 years while managing the Los Angeles-based organization, claiming a 3,700-square-foot home on the Big Island as her primary residence since at least 2015 [1][2].