CSAC Calls for Action Over Talk at CalMatters Panel on Homelessness

As frustration builds over California’s lack of progress addressing the state’s homelessness crisis, the California State Association of Counties called for all levels of government to work together to make real change as CSAC hosted a CalMatters event at our 2025 Legislative Conference.

“Enough talk about addressing homelessness,” said CSAC President and Inyo County Supervisor Jeff Griffiths. “It’s time for every level of government to come together, coordinate their efforts and work in concert on California’s most intractable problem.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell represented CSAC at the CalMatters event. Other panelists included Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Secretary Tomiquia Moss and Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson.

Mitchell and Lock Dawson called on Newsom and state lawmakers not to cut off the only significant funding source dedicated to reducing homelessness, the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Grant Program, and instead to make it permanent.

“One-time funding or annual investments that eventually end will prevent us from finding solutions” to homelessness, said Mitchell, who previously chaired the state Senate’s budget committee.

The discussion also covered the significant gaps in responsibility under state law. No entity is legally responsible for providing shelter: not the city, or county, or non-profits, or anyone else.

“This is a shared burden and opportunity,” Mitchell said. “We can’t do this as individual levels of government. We have to do it collaboratively” with counties providing services and the city placing and funding housing.

Secretary Moss echoed Mitchell’s point, emphasizing the importance of “everyone knowing their role” and recognizing that “this is solvable.”

CSAC is working with elected officials in both parties at the state and local levels to identify real solutions.

“Counties are ready to comprehensively address the homelessness crisis by addressing the two fundamental problems with the current broken system: clear responsibilities for each level of government — state, city and county; and reliable funding so local governments can follow through on what they start,” said CSAC CEO Graham Knaus.