Big City Mayors Urge State Leaders to Make Homelessness Funding Permanent

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A bipartisan coalition of mayors from the state's 13 largest cities visited the State Capitol today to urge Governor Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to create a major program to fund homelessness in California.

The coalition of major city mayors, led by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, made a single request to leadership to "take a commitment to continued funding."

"Private programs and assistance programs created in California's major cities at the expense of local funds and resources are helping people get off the streets and get help. We must protect the progress we've made thanks to the state's continued investment," said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. "We have demonstrated an emergency shift in state funding to increase the number of emergency shelters, provide housing for people, and put them on a path to permanent housing. We can build on this success, but cities need the certainty that a commitment to permanent funding from the state provides.

Mayors of major cities also called on the state administrator to reverse cuts to the Regional Early Planning 2. 0 (REAP 2. 0) grant, which provides state funding for local governments to update their plans and create tens of thousands of new housing construction opportunities to solve California's housing shortage crisis.

Among other priorities the mayors highlighted in their performance in Sacramento was continued investment in the California Youth Service Corps program, which provides thousands of jobs and service opportunities for young people, and a call to take significant measures to combat retail theft.

Since 2018, California has provided $1. 2 billion in funding for HHAP, and its predecessor, A Program for Helping the Homeless in California. Through the State of San Diego Homelessness and Emergency Preparedness Program (SEAP), the state provides direct grant funding to major cities, counties, and multi-agency programs (such as the San Diego Area Homeless Outreach Group) for one-off homelessness assistance programs. The state is currently experiencing a significant budget deficit and recently approved an early action plan that would reduce the deficit by $17 billion. This plan had minimal impact on housing and homelessness assistance programs, but the current budget proposal does not include any additional funding for HHAP.

The mayors argued that the continuation of Hhap funds is necessary to support transition and permanent housing programs aimed at reducing the number of unprotected homeless. HHAP funding complements recent medical reforms in order to address crisis situations.

The mayors of the major cities succeeded in the CARE law passed in 2022, the natural protection reform passed in 2023, and the first proposal approved by voters in March. The first proposal is to give priority to the county of mental health funds in order to accommodate homeless people with untreated behavioral disorders.

Each mayor has approved the state leader of more than $ 1 billion in HHAP's 6th round of $ 1 billion annually, and to make this program permanent, so that states and local governments deal with homeless issues. The company calls for more effectively planning a lon g-term approach, providing funds to programs more effectively, and ensuring accountability for the progress of homeless reductions.

The coalition, which recognizes the need to fulfill the accountability for homeless funds, published a report in detail the number of shelter beds and temporary housing newly built by each city by these funds:

• 15. New 722 beds in shelters and temporary housing
• 149. 851 people received support
• 42. 215 people provide housing

What Other Mayors Are Saying

Mayor Karen Bass Los Angeles: "We will promote fundamental reforms in the efforts of houses and homeless issues with the mayor of major cities in California. To protect and expand our progress. We will continue to cooperate with the leaders.

"Thanks to the provision of HHAP, Sannose has been able to build about 500 transitioned houses and contribute to reducing the number of unprotected homeless. This is one of the most impactful investments to change hundreds of life in our city and the whole state.

Mayor of San Francisco London N. Bleed: "In San Francisco, Hhap has played an important role in expanding emergency shelter programs and moving people from the street to safe housing. Nearly 5, 000 people in San Francisco have helped to get temporary shelters in the form of hotel rooms and new shelters, and have been working on a lon g-term residence.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said, "Fresno has made great strides in the fight against homelessness in recent years. Thanks to precious city funds, we have been able to launch a complete project that will definitely help people get off the streets, into transitional housing with a range of services, and eventually into facilities, providing shelter to more than 7, 000 people, half of whom will definitely be able to successfully transition out of homelessness. We have a project that has been proven to work. We cannot slow or stop these efforts to provide assistance to the most vulnerable among us. We will not rest until we have definitely helped someone who is homeless. As a result, I urge the state to continue investing in these efforts while Fresno and other cities in California use these funds prudently to address the most important challenges facing our communities." Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg: "With support from the HEAP and HHAP programs, Greater Sacramento has placed more than 9, 000 people into emergency shelters and housing over the past six years. We've added more than 10 shelter beds and built hundreds of permanent low-cost apartments. We've released tens of millions of dollars from mutual funds for these purposes. We're saving lives and cleaning up our city, and we couldn't continue this work without state HHAP funding." Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said, "Long Beach is actively addressing the housing and homelessness issues facing our community, but we urgently need continued resources and state partnerships to make these efforts meaningful. With continued state funding, we will continue to implement HHAP's efforts to address homelessness in our metropolitan area and get many people off the streets and into safe housing."

Oakland Mayor Shen Thao said, "The metropolitan area is at the forefront of reducing homelessness, and we urge state leaders to continue to provide free funding for the homeless housing, assistance, and prevention programs that have undoubtedly helped thousands of people escape poverty. As someone who became homeless as a young mother and has struggled for most of my life without a safe, regular apartment, I am focused on the potential that virtuous housing has to help put a stop to the cycle of homelessness. Let's continue to work together to invest in meaningful and worthy housing and shelter for the remaining Californians experiencing homelessness."

Bakers Field Mayor Karen Go "Each city in California continues to fight mental health, mental drugs, and housing crisis. The mayor of major cities has a leading role in implementing effective solutions. Despite our efforts, the new homelessness is more than our cities. We will change the policies that are the most important questions for the state for the lon g-term resolution for the state of the crisis.

Mayor Anaheim mayor Ashley Eightken: "Anaheim and other cities show that it works. Through daily activities with the general public, providing supported houses, and cooperation with court, people receive the necessary support. They have been able to save their lives and improve their lives from the state of the city. Collaborative work will now lead to an outreach.

"For the past four years, the city of Riverside has made a surprising progress, has a 12 % chronic homeless level and 27 % of youth homeless levels by 27 % for the past four years. Hhap. Is the most important part of the struggle with the homeless in our cities, and without this funding, our progress will be in danger.

"Homeless problem is a humanitarian crisis that affects the quality of all Stokon citizens. With funding from the state," Homeless Issues is a humanitarian crisis. In the past four years, we have made an incredible progress, adding shelters and services for all Stocks. Funding from a state is extremely important to stand on the foundation of our establishment and make realistic and stable decisions for our community.

Mayor Fara N. Khan of Urbine City: "The expansion of the local community as a result of a stable state budget contributes to the development of important regional cooperation. In the meantime, the investment in the program that provides funds will change to 12. 5 % of the people who are looking for help and those who are compassionate. Cities have the opportunity to develop and gain momentum to develop the necessary potential to solve homeless issues.

Big City Meyers is a coalition of 13 or more cities in California, with a population of 300, 000 or more. Participated cities include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Nose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Auckland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Stokon, Riverside, and Ilbine. The chairman of this year's "Major City Mayor Meeting" is the mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria.