Broad Coalition Calls on Newsom and Legislature to Pass Counties’ Homeless Accountability Plan and Funding in This Year’s State Budget
Groups Urge Ongoing Funding and Collaboration Between the State and Local Governments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2023
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the AT HOME Coalition for Accountability, led by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and including groups representing public safety, non-profits, faith, environmental, behavioral health and business groups, urgently called on Governor Newsom and the Legislature to adopt the coalition’s proposed trailer bill language in the 2023-2024 state budget.
“Success on homelessness is not rocket science — it’s limited to our willingness to define responsibilities for each level of government, make investments to fund them, and hold each level of government accountable. Without those ingredients, we will fail,” said Graham Knaus, CSAC CEO. “The AT HOME Coalition for Accountability’s language establishes a comprehensive homelessness response system – in statute – with clear lines of responsibility and accountability for all levels of government. Communities and those struggling with homelessness cannot wait yet another year — we must act now. The Governor and Legislature should adopt this language in the state budget this year.”
“Our AT HOME Accountability language is a common-sense approach to tackling the biggest crisis in California today,” said John Gioia, CSAC Executive Committee Member and Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “The current approach to homelessness fails to define the roles of the State, counties and cities in dealing with this vital issue. We can’t address this serious crisis without accountability at every level of government. Our proposed language holds all levels of government accountable for results and requires local governments and stakeholders to design Local Homeless Accountability Plans that are unique to that county or region. I urge our language to be adopted in the state budget.”
The AT HOME Accountability language invites cities and counties, along with other key stakeholders, to create all-encompassing Local Homeless Accountability Plans, either by region or by county. The Plans would lay out exactly who is supposed to do what, outline goals and, importantly, indicate who is accountable if those goals are not met.
Funding provided by the state through the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Grant Program would go to cities and counties that collaborate on local plans. HHAP funding must be ongoing, which is a key part of the approach. Without ongoing funding and clear responsibilities, real progress to address the homelessness crisis will remain fleeting. More details outlining the specifics can be found here.
“Homelessness is a chronic, daunting problem that impacts the ability of businesses to operate,” said Brenda Bass, Policy Advocate, California Chamber of Commerce. “The accountability policy CSAC has put forth through the proposed trailer bill establishes a system that will make a difference and will help get our arms around this problem. California’s business community strongly recommends the AT HOME accountability language be adopted into the state budget this year.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how collaboration can help us make progress on homelessness. But we can’t be distracted by short-sighted plans. We need long-term solutions for housing and the AT HOME Accountability language, and we need them now. This language should be included in the state budget,” said Susan Ellenberg, Santa Clara County Supervisor.
“As a city official and Chair of the Homeless Services Oversight Council in San Luis Obispo County, I just finished leading development of a countywide strategic plan on homelessness. Clarifying local responsibilities is a key next step,” said Susan Funk, Atascadero Mayor Pro Tem and Chair, Homeless Services Oversight Council. “But even with a better idea of what needs to happen, getting the job done is difficult. We’re often scrambling to find funding from an alphabet soup of changing options. Navigating that bureaucracy slows us down, and providers get cold feet about expanding even highly successful programs if ongoing funding is precarious.”
“The AT HOME Accountability budget trailer bill language will remove many of those barriers, and it has flexibility for small counties and big cities,” Funk continued. “I can’t tell you how important and what a game changer it will be to have clear accountability and steady funding. Governor Newsom and legislators should adopt this plan into the state budget.”
Adopting the AT HOME accountability language will establish a comprehensive homelessness response system – in statute – and put California on the path forward to making meaningful progress on homelessness.
