Counties Unveil Comprehensive Proposal to Address Homelessness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sacramento, CA — As frustration with the state’s homelessness crisis hits a boiling point, California counties are rolling out the first complete proposal to tackle the issue head-on.

“For years, the state has thrown one-time money at this problem without any real strategy,” says California State Association of Counties (CSAC) President and Inyo County Supervisor Jeff Griffiths. “Our AT HOME proposal is credible, comprehensive, and directly addresses the state-imposed barriers to reducing homelessness. It’s time to act.”

The AT HOME Pilot offers solutions to the two fundamental, state-imposed barriers to addressing homelessness:

• First — there are no clear responsibilities for each level of government in state law. For example, no one is charged with providing shelter and housing to someone living on the street. So when progress stalls, it’s all too easy to just blame someone else. It’s time to explicitly lay out the role for cities, counties and the state so each can be held accountable.
• Second — the state has chosen to take an unreliable, one-year-at-a-time approach to fighting one of the most intractable problems of our time. So it’s impossible for local governments to make long-term investments because there’s no guarantee they’ll be funded. Counties and cities are in lockstep calling on the state to fund the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program fully and permanently.

CSAC’s proposal would enact a proof-of-concept pilot in counties and cities with strong existing working relationships. Those who opt in would agree to clear responsibilities at each level of government, and to streamline the development process for shelter, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing projects.

“Counties believe it’s not enough to lay out problems. While others point fingers, we’re doing the hard work of crafting smart policy solutions to this crisis,” says CSAC Second Vice President and Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, a former state Assemblymember. “Our county is ready to show Californians what’s possible when the state and local governments work in concert. We call on leaders at all levels of government to join us.”

The attached summary lays out the specific responsibilities, steps to streamline those projects, and funding ask. In addition, a recently released CSAC analysis breaks down why the state funding provided to date has failed to achieve the results Californians expect.

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