Homeless and Housing Strategies for California
Homeless and Housing Strategies for California is a companion website created by the Hub for Urban Initaives.
The primary purpose of the Homeless and Housing Strategies for California website is to closely examine the issues that are contributing to an unprecedented increase in the number of persons who are homeless and at risk of becoming homeless in California; help counties, cities, and communities shape local policies for solving homelessness and increasing affordable housing including permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless; and assist you in helping other local stakeholders and decision-makers shape local policies by promoting the practices published there.
The 2017 Legislative Housing Package in California has injected a wide-range of new regulatory and financial resources to increase affordable housing, permanent supportive housing for homeless persons with disabling conditions, and supportive services including health, mental health, and substance abuse care. The Homeless and Housing Strategies for California website will help local governments and non-profit organizations maximize the impact of the resources available to them.
"Thank you for this. In Santa Cruz we're trying to establish at least two new Navigation Centers, and this guidance is valuable. Much appreciated!"
Rayne Marr
Homeless Service Coordinator at County of Santa Cruz
Our guidance focuses on three key areas for action:
- Policy, including opportunities to make the most of new legislation and funding
- Plans, especially strategic plans for CoCs
- Practices, both proven and promising, that CoCs can implement to improve outcomes
Here is our most recent guidance posted to the Homeless and Housing Strategies for California site:
- What’s in the Governor’s 2022-23 May Revision Budget Regarding Homelessness?
The Administration’s commitment to extend the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program at current levels ($1 billion) for additional years beyond FY 2022-23. An additional $150 million for Homekey in the current year for a total of $2.9 billion in Homekey funding over two years. $500 million over two years to house unsheltered individuals on…
- The Need for HER (Homeless Emergency Response) Teams
As the number of females counted as homeless surges in California so must our (HER) homeless emergency response HER Teams must be skilled at integrating a trauma-informed approach into their street outreach and engagement activities; HER Teams understand that the lasting effects of trauma and the fear of being re-traumatized may cause too many females…
- Maximizing the Roles and Responsibilities of California’s Continuums of Care (CoCs)
Forging an unprecedented partnership between CoCs and State government, counties, cities, and community stakeholders is timely Recently approved and proposed legislation and budgeted funding provides State government with an opportunity to weave together an unprecedented homelessness strategy that builds upon existing actions and plans Maximizing the extensive and influential roles and responsibilities of CoCs would…
- Shaping a Statewide Strategy for Housing Persons Living and Languishing on the Streets with Severe Mental Health and Chronic Substance Abuse Issues
A comparison of recent homeless count data reveals a 19% increase in the number of persons identified as severely mentally ill and a 72% increase in the number of chronic substance abusers A comparison of data entered in the State’s Homeless Data Integration System reveals that 40% of persons had a disabling condition in 2018…