Council-Sponsored Homelessness Legislation Unveiled

The Bay Area Council this week (April 7) joined Senator Catherine Blakespear (San Diego) and Senator Josh Becker (Menlo Park) at a press conference in Sacramento to unveil legislation we are co-sponsoring to combat California’s crippling unsheltered homelessness crisis. The bills, SB 16 (Blakespear) and SB 606 (Becker), would deploy a ranger of new carrots and sticks to get cities and counties to plan, build, and operate interim housing units to bring unsheltered individuals indoors.

The bills would establish achieving “functional zero unsheltered homelessness” as state policy; encourage smaller cities to participate in regional homeless planning processes; and require counties pay half the operating costs of new city-owned shelter. We’re proud to join co-sponsors San José Mayor Matt Mahan, DignityMoves, New California Coalition, and the California Grocer’s Association in advancing this legislation. The Council has been a leading proponent of interim housing, which offers a faster, more affordable and easily scalable approach to bringing homeless residents inside.

“For years, California’s homeless crisis has continued to worsen,” Sen. Blakespear said. “We need to step up and make it a clear goal in every region to get people off the streets, and we have to give cities the tools and support they need to do that. Counties need to be full partners in this effort. That’s why we need SB 16 and SB 606.”

“Now more than ever, I believe we can truly end unsheltered homelessness in California,” Sen. Becker said. “Interim housing is a crucial rung on the ladder to get to permanent housing. SB 16 and SB 606 give us the tools to act faster — getting people off the streets and into safe, stable housing where they can access healthcare, services, job opportunities, and a real path to permanent housing, all at a lower cost to taxpayers. No one should be left to suffer or die on our sidewalks. Functional zero is within reach — but only if we act with urgency and compassion.”

Bay Area Council members are encouraged to send letters of support on behalf of both bills. For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Public Policy Adrian Covert.