Much of the $1 billion Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed in his budget to address the homeless crisis — an amount that doubles previous funding — would go to rental assistance and housing development.
Newsom submitted his revised budget proposal on Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported, with an increase in funds aimed at tackling poverty and homelessness.
Of that $1 billion, $650 million would go to local governments and regional homelessness agencies to build emergency shelters, provide rental assistance and construct permanent housing, the Times reported. Newsom’s overall state spending plan tallies $213.5 billion.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said earlier this month that he expected the number of homeless Angelenos had increased over the past year. Official results of the annual homelessness count will be announced later this month.
L.A. has struggled to meet homeless housing goals Garcetti set, and his “A Bridge Home” program has been met with protests and resistance in communities around the city.
Developers have reportedly struggled to secure financing for permanent housing projects through the $1.2-billion Measure HHH, a ballot initiative approved in 2016 to address the homeless crisis in L.A.
Newsom has pledged to fight homelessness and increase affordability statewide, and has said he wants developers to build 500,000 homes per year. [LAT] — Gregory Cornfield