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Governor Newsom signs bipartisan housing package and launches Prop 1 Homekey+ initiative
Sep 19, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO — Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new bipartisan legislative package aimed at strengthening California's efforts to address its housing and homelessness crisis. This comprehensive initiative seeks to streamline housing production and hold localities accountable for state housing laws.
Governor Newsom also announced the release of new program guidance for up to $2.2 billion in funding through Proposition 1. The funds will be used to build permanent supportive housing for veterans and individuals with mental health or substance use disorders who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The program, known as Homekey+, will focus on acquiring and rehabilitating existing buildings or other project types that can be quickly converted into permanent affordable housing. Applications will open in November, with continuous funding distribution starting in May 2025.
"No more excuses. California is taking action to fix the decades-long homelessness, housing, and mental health crises. These new laws — paired with the state’s unprecedented resources — will deliver more housing, get people off the streets, and provide life-changing support that will benefit all Californians," stated Governor Gavin Newsom.
The legislation mandates that local governments plan for housing for extremely vulnerable residents, including those experiencing homelessness and other low-income individuals. It also increases accountability by creating stricter timelines and more robust requirements for local governments to report on their housing progress.
Moreover, the new laws strengthen enforcement by imposing monetary penalties on cities and counties that fail to adopt necessary revisions or approve housing developments. The legislation aims to streamline housing production by reducing regulatory barriers and promoting development near transit.
The Prop 1 funding is expected to create over 4,000 new permanent housing units paired with services for people facing mental health and housing challenges. Half of these units will be reserved for veterans with behavioral health needs.
California continues to face a significant homelessness and housing affordability crisis. Recent data from 2023 indicates that approximately 181,000 Californians experienced homelessness, with around half living in unsheltered conditions. Economic hardship remains a key driver of this issue due to high rent costs.
Since taking office, Governor Newsom has invested over $40 billion in boosting affordable housing and more than $27 billion towards addressing homelessness. Significant policy changes have been enacted to ensure local jurisdictions create sufficient housing units for every California resident.
Today's announcement follows an executive order urging local governments to utilize state funding effectively to address unsanitary encampments within their communities.
California is also modernizing its behavioral health delivery system through Proposition 1 which includes a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond aimed at improving treatment settings and expanding behavioral health care facilities across the state.
Governor Newsom signed multiple bills as part of this effort:
Preventing and Ending Homelessness
- AB 3093 by Assemblymember Chris Ward
- AB 799 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas
- SB 7 by Senator Catherine Blakespear
- SB 1395 by Senator Josh Becker
Accountability
- AB 1886 by Assemblymember David Alvarez
- AB 1893 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
- AB 2023 by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva
- SB 1037 by Senator Scott Wiener
- AB 1413 by Assemblymember Phil Ting
- AB 2667 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago
- SB 393 by Senator Steven M. Glazer
- SB 450 by Senator Toni Atkins
Housing Streamlining and Production
- AB 2243 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
- AB 2488 by Assemblymember Phil Ting
- AB 2199 by Assemblymember Marc Berman
- AB 2694 by Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward
- SB312bySenatorScottWiener
-SB1123bySenatorAnnaCaballero
-SB1211bySenatorNancySkinner
TransparencyandEfficiency
AB1053byAssemblymemberJesseGabriel
AB2117byAssemblymemberJoePatterson
AB2430byAssemblymemberDavidAlvarez
AB2553byAssemblymembeLauraFriedman
AB2663byAssemblymembeTimothySGrayson
AB2926byAssemblymembeAshKalra
SB937bySenatoScottWiener
HousingProtections
AB2801bAssembymemberLauraFriedman
AB2747bAssembymemberMattHaney
SB611BySenatoCarolineMenjiva
SB900bSenatoTomUmberg
TribalHousing
AB1878bAssembymemberEduardoGarcia
SB1187ySenatoprotemMikeMcGuire
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