Lavish Living While the Homeless Suffer: The Alleged Charity Scam

In a quiet, upscale neighborhood near Beverly Hills, a story of alleged deception and extravagance is unfolding. Alexander Soofer, the head of a homeless charity, is accused of misusing $23 million meant to help Los Angeles' homeless community. Instead, he allegedly used the funds to buy a $7 million mansion, take luxury vacations, and pay for his kids' private school tuition. Neighbors have been buzzing about the couple's lavish lifestyle. One neighbor claimed that the couple spent at least $40, 000 on landscaping alone. The house is constantly under renovation, with designer furniture adorning the front yard and a fortress-like security system in place. The alleged scam involved Soofer leasing properties for homeless housing at market rates and then paying himself above market rates for the same housing. He promised to provide three healthy meals a day to those in need, but investigators found that he was instead serving up Ramen noodles, canned beans, and breakfast bars.The multi-millions that Soofer allegedly siphoned were part of Measure H, a sales tax increase passed by voters in 2017 to fund homelessness services, mental healthcare, and prevention programs. The measure generates around $355 million each year for such programs. The alleged scam has left neighbors outraged. One neighbor said, "Taking money marked for the homeless is horrible, horrible. " Another neighbor expressed frustration with city and state leaders' lack of accountability, saying, "LA Mayor Karen Bass is horrible. I hope to god people are waking up and won't vote for her again. " Soofer, 42, was released on $1. 5 million bond pending a hearing in federal court. He could face more than three decades behind bars if convicted. His wife, Ashley Afraimian, has not been charged, but neighbors wonder how much she may have known about the alleged scheme. Public financial filings for the non-profit show that Afraimian was listed as an “officer” in 2024 and paid $129, 500 by the organization. The alleged scam has left many questioning the integrity of those in charge of helping the most vulnerable in society.