SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved Senate Bill 333, a measure that requires a long-term, strategic plan to combat homelessness across the state, complete with specific goals and benchmarks.
“If California is serious about helping people get back on their feet and off the street, we have to be equally serious about ensuring homeless dollars are not wasted in the bureaucracy,” said 21st District Senator Scott Wilk, who authored the bill.
SB 333 stems from a report released last year by the California State Auditor who, at the request of Wilk and Assemblyman Tom Lackey, investigated California’s statewide efforts to solve the homelessness and found inadequacies.
In 2018, California had 134,000 residents without a home on any given night, according to data provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“This bill will hold state government accountable in its effort to address homelessness and ensure that not a single cent from the taxpayer goes to waste,” Wilk said. “This crisis is just too big and too critical to do otherwise.”
SB 333, co-authored by Assemblyman Tom Lackey, addresses several recommendations from the State Auditor’s report. Specifically, the bill requires the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council to develop and implement a statewide, strategic plan to address homelessness in California, including goals, objectives and timelines, plus metrics for measuring their achievements.
SB 333 will now go to the Assembly for consideration.
Question Lancaster Authority says
What did Rex do with the million dollars the county gave Lancaster? That could have kept the shelter open. Marv claims 67 homeless people a day are being sent from LA to Lancaster. That would amount to 24,445 people a year. We know Lancaster has a huge homeless problem, but there aren’t 24,445 homeless, although sometimes it feels like it when you walk down the BLVD.
We know Rex likes to bulldoze homeless camps but what happened to the money?
Strategic Planner says
If one thinks it is bad now, just wait until the next recession/depression.
ANNON says
inadequacies in California Government?… who you kidding LOL?