New LA Mayor Karen Bass has elevated current City Planning Commissioner Jenna Hornstock to a newly-created post as the Deputy Mayor of Housing, according to the city's announcement on Wednesday afternoon.

The appointment aligns with Bass’ comprehensive shakeup of the city’s existing multifaceted housing apparatus. It will create an office that is accountable for efforts to address the dual crises of affordability and homelessness that have become hot-button political issues for Angelenos over the past decade.

Honstock comes to the position with experience as the acting Deputy Director of Planning and Land Use for the Southern California Association of Governments and was a former aide on the Housing and Business team of former Mayor James Hahn. According to her Linkedin page, she is also the current board of advisors member for the Urban Land Institute and holds an MPP in Urban Economic Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Her role will be instrumental in tackling the city's challenges related to the intertwining issues surrounding housing. Los Angeles is currently pursuing a plan that would bring online some 255,000 units of housing by the end of the decade and is considering other efforts to increase its stock through various zoning changes and other mandates Bass personally said will be the end of a bureaucratic culture held back “useless” and unnecessary obstacles to increased progressive development.

Honstock will therefore be put in charge of the city’s extensive housing portfolio. She is the first-ever title holder for the newly created office, which has parallels in New York and London. Honstock was joined by the appointment of Guillermo Cespedes as the Deputy Mayor of Community Safety, reflecting another growing concern. In a press statement, Bass said she hopes “these innovative and experienced leaders will help move our City forward in ways that will improve the quality of life for all Angelenos.