Gov. Gavin Newsom Seeks Over $1 Billion To Target Homelessness

CALIFORNIA — In an effort to fight the "national homelessness crisis" that has hit California especially hard, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he will seek more than $1 billion in his next budget to fund housing and medical programs for those facing homelessness.

The budget would include a new $750 million fund to help pay rent for people facing homelessness and help regions increase their housing supply. Newsom said he would create the fund Wednesday through an executive order, two days before he presents his 2020-21 budget proposal to the legislature.

Citing mental health issues and drug abuse as contributing factors to homelessness, Newsom is also seeking $695 billion to increase spending on preventative healthcare through the state's Medi-Cal program — a figure he said could grow to $1.4 billion by 2022.

"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,” Newsom said in a statement.

As a more immediate fix, Newsom said the state will supply 100 camp trailers and modular tents to provide temporary housing and health and social services to regions that meet certain criteria. Wednesday's executive order will also direct his administration to find properties that could be used by local governments and nonprofits to temporarily house the homeless.

The $750 million fund may include state taxpayer money as well as donations from the private sector and philanthropic causes, according to the governor's office.

A final prong aimed at criminal justice would develop a pilot program placing people with mental health issues, especially those deemed incompetent to stand trial, in community-based commitments instead of state hospitals. That funding would start at $24.6 million and could grow to $364 million over six years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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