What’s in the 2019-20 Proposed California Governor’s Budget for Homelessness?

-More One-Time Funds Are Planned-

Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed state budget for 2019-20, which includes more funds to help end homelessness. As noted in the Homelessness section, the budget includes one-time $500 million for jurisdictions that site and build

• emergency shelters;
• navigation centers; or
• supportive housing.

The funds are divided into two groups of funding: Regional Planning and Meeting Milestones.

Regional Planning ($300 Million)

The four major points stated under this activity include:

1. “Funds must be spent on expanding or developing shelters and navigation centers;
2. The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency will distribute funds through federally designated areas ($200 million) and the eleven most populous cities in the state ($100 million);
3. Jurisdictions that establish joint regional plans to address homelessness will be eligible for funding;
4. Plans must include regional coordination between counties and cities and report all funds currently being used to provide housing and services to the homeless population in their regions (including but not limited to Mental Health Services Act funds, Realignment funds, and dedicated city and county funds).”

Meeting Milestones ($200 Million)

The one point stated under this activity included:

1. “Jurisdictions that show progress toward developing housing and shelters, including permitting new supportive housing units or constructing emergency shelters and navigation centers, will be eligible to receive additional funds for general purposes.”

The proposed budget includes a total of $7.7 billion for a

“a multi-pronged approach that includes incentives to increase housing production and additional resources to provide access to shelter and services to individuals and families with immediate needs (see closing paragraph).”

The $7.7 billion is spread “across multiple departments and programs to address housing and homelessness throughout the state (see Figure HLG-02 at the very end of document).”