Gavin Newsom’s 5-point plan to address California homelessness explained

California Gov. Gavin Newsom dedicated most of his Wednesday State of the State speech to the subject of homelessness, and detailing how his administration would respond to the growing crisis.

In his speech, Newsom laid out a five-point framework that he would approach to the problem.

Here’s what the governor called for:

‘Quickly and humanely’ reducing street homelessness

Newsom laid out the need to get people off of the street as “quickly and humanely” as possible.

The governor pointed to his January executive order, which called for the deployment of emergency trailers and services to be provided to homeless families and seniors.

That same order also called for vacant state property to be used by local governments “for homelessness solutions.”

Newsom said Wednesday that 286 such properties have been made available, including vacant lots, fairgrounds, armories and other state buildings.

“We have lease templates ready to go, and we’re ready for partnership,” Newsom said in prepared remarks.

Getting the mentally ill into treatment

Newsom called for a “once-in-a-generation” reform of Medi-Cal, backed by a $695-million budget request, aimed at providing critical mental health services to those on the streets who need them.

“Health care and housing can no longer be divorced. After all, what’s more fundamental to a person’s well-being than a roof over their head?” Newsom said in prepared remarks. “Doctors should be able to write prescriptions for housing the same way they do for insulin or antibiotics.”

Newsom said the government also needs to be able to get help to those who are incapable of accepting help on their own behalf.

Newsom called for a reform of state behavioral health laws governing limited and general conservatorships, “all within the bounds of deep respect for civil liberties and personal freedoms, but with an equal emphasis on helping people into the life-saving treatment that they need at the precise moment they need it.”

Providing stable funding

Newsom used his speech Wednesday to promote his proposed “California Access to Housing Fund,” which he said brings “a whole new way of investing in homeless solutions.”

Newsom said it focuses on a simple solution: “Paying for what works.”

That includes financing innovative housing models, such as hotel or motel conversions, “and securing vacant units wherever we can find them,” Newsom said.

Newsom said California could use that new fund to “braid together state and philanthropic dollars” and called on the Legislature to approve a $750 million infusion into the fund.

Newsom said he would also work with the Legislature to secure ongoing revenue to address homelessness.

“We need significant, sustainable revenue,” the governor said.

Addressing affordable housing

Newsom called affordable housing a “fundamental building block” to California’s solution for homelessness.

To that end, the governor pointed to past successes, such as 2019’s $7 billion affordable housing package and laws preventing landlords from discriminating against low-income tenants with Section 8 housing vouchers.

“But time and time again, bigger, bolder reform hasn’t happened, in part because of some legitimate concerns,” Newsom said in prepared remarks.

Newsom called for a commitment to major reform that would speed the production of affordable housing units, particularly near transit centers and downtowns.

“It’s time for California to say yes to housing. We cannot wait,” Newsom said.

‘Real accountability and consequences’

Throughout his speech, Newsom emphasized that he wanted “real accountability and consequences” attached to the state’s efforts to reduce homelessness.

He called on local governments to increase density “in a way that promotes equity, affordability and inclusion,” and that housing units planned turn into housing units built.

He also called for compelling counties to spend more of the money that they receive, warning them to “spend your mental health dollars by June 30th, or we’ll make sure they get spent for you.”

This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 12:20 PM.