Big City Mayors Support Homeless Investments, Call for Sustained Funding to Reduce Encampments

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, as Chair of the California Big City Mayors – a bipartisan coalition of the Mayors of California’s 13 most populous cities – issued the following statement following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s release of his May Revision budget on Friday:

“Governor Newsom’s May Revision continues the State’s leadership in dedicating needed funding directly to California’s cities to address homelessness. We are grateful for this investment and dedicated to doing our part so that the State and local governments produce results.

“We know that making a real impact on homelessness will require a multiyear commitment from the State. We urge the Governor and Legislature to provide increased and ongoing funding for the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program and additional resources for Homekey to get struggling Californians off the streets and into housing.

“California’s Big City Mayors are leading the state in standing up shelters, housing, and services to combat unsheltered homelessness. With State funding, the 13 largest cities have provided nearly 16,000 new beds and helped place more than 19,000 people into housing or shelters, getting them out of dangerous encampments and off the streets. We’ve also created more than 5,100 new homes in our cities through the Homekey program. Direct funding for big cities to address homelessness is essential, and we look forward to continuing to engage with the Governor and the Legislature to ensure we get the ongoing support we need to continue doing this work.”