Comments 1 - 5 of 5 Search these comments
California governor seeks $1.4 billion in additional slush funds for graft using homeless as excuse.
The more the cops hassle and annoy the homeless, the more that will pack up and leave.
As homelessness in California swells, Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking state lawmakers to funnel $1.4 billion into programs designed to alleviate the crisis.
He unveiled a budget Friday that would build on last year’s billion-dollar promise to create more temporary shelters and emergency housing and help pay for treatment programs.
“The state of California is treating homelessness as a real emergency — because it is one,” Newsom said in a statement. “Californians are demanding that all levels of government — federal, state and local — do more to get people off the streets and into services — whether that’s housing, mental health services, substance abuse treatment or all of the above.”
He said the money would go directly to the people who need it most and would focus on preventive measures, including rent assistance and access to healthcare.
“[We’re] using every tool in the toolbox — from proposing a massive new infusion of state dollars in the budget that goes directly to homeless individuals’ emergency housing and treatment programs, to building short-term emergency housing on vacant state-owned land,” he said.
The proposal was met with measured enthusiasm from advocates and officials, who said they were grateful for the additional resources but acknowledged it would not be enough to get the 151,000 homeless individuals in California off the streets.
“It covers the major direct issues related to homelessness, shelter, housing, social services,” said Nan Roman, president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, based in Washington, D.C. “Whether it’s the right amount of money I can’t say … but it seems like it’s hitting the right things.”
In Los Angeles, the city with the largest homeless population in the state, the response appeared to be equally restrained. L.A. experienced a 16 percent increase in its homeless population from 2018 to last year, bringing the total to 36,000, according to an annual count.
“Solving homelessness is the top priority for Angelenos and people across California, and our state budget ought to reflect that urgency,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in response to Newsom's announcement.
Los Angeles County experienced a 12 percent increase in homelessness over the same period, putting the population at around 59,000.
Although Garcetti believes "we always need more," he is grateful for the possibility that additional money will be set aside to battle the epidemic, a spokesman said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-governor-seeks-1-4-billion-combat-homelessness-crisis-grows-n1113926