Massive Infusion of $1B Goes to Tackling Homelessness in California, Los Angeles

Sacramento, CA – The California State Legislature and Governor Newsom agreed this year to spend $1B to address the state’s burgeoning humanitarian crisis: homelessness. $650 million of that spending will fund the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program, formerly known as HEAP, as an addition to the $500 million allocated in last year’s budget.

The Chair of the Select Committee on Los Angeles County Homelessness, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), who represents Skid Row and the surrounding areas, released the following statement:

“Help is on the way,” said Assemblymember Santiago. “The Legislature has doubled down on giving our cities the resources they need to lift up our neighbors who have no place to call home.  There is no silver-bullet solution to this crisis, but the historic funding in this year’s budget is a strong step forward.However, using those dollars to build emergency housing in Los Angeles will continue to be a challenge unless we pass AB 1197 to bring Measure HHH and HEAP dollars under expedited review. We cannot continue to allow opposition groups to delay life-saving housing units as Californians struggle to survive on our streets.”

California cities and counties will be able to draw down those resources to expand and improve their continuum of care services, and to build emergency and permanent supportive housing. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti added:

“Homelessness is a humanitarian emergency – and Los Angeles is making record investments in delivering help, housing, health care, and hope to our unsheltered neighbors. But we cannot confront this crisis alone, and our state’s aid is absolutely essential to reversing decades of disinvestment and bringing more people off our streets,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Now, we need Sacramento to take the next step by removing the barriers that slow down new bridge and supportive housing, so we can do more, faster, to bring Angelenos indoors.”

The budget bill passed by the legislature and signed by the governor allocates the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program as follows: $190 million dollars made available to continuums of care, $275 million dollars for cities, and $175 million for counties.