California Governor Gavin Newsom says he will ask lawmakers for another $1.4 billion dollars in spending to help get the homeless off the streets.
The proposal, which will be included in the new state budget Newsom is sending the legislature on Friday, would direct up to $750 million to be spent on things like rental assistance, emergency shelters, and other facilities and resources for those people who are homeless. Funds would be directed to local agencies and providers so they could decide how to allocate the dollars within their communities.
"Homelessness is a national crisis, one that’s spreading across the West Coast and cities across the country," Newsom said in a statement. "The state of California is treating it as a real emergency — because it is one. 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 emergency housing, mental health services, substance abuse treatment or all of the above.”
The money would be taken from the state's general fund, which has seen better than expected revenue collections over the last year. Other funds will come from philanthropic organizations and private sector groups.
Newsom is also asking the federal government for another $700 million in federal funds to help expand MediCal coverage to help cover those experiencing homelessness as well as improve the state's mental health services.
The request comes as the Trump administration has targeted California for its homeless crisis, who has demanded action on the issue. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that California's homeless population is at around 128,777, nearly one-third of all homeless in the nation.
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