California's homelessness crisis is now the focus of concern of state senators, releasing a statement Monday, a plan to allot $2 billion worth of building and rehabilitation of permanent housing for homeless mentally ill people, LA Times reports.
The money would be directed from mental health funding provided under Proposition 63 of the state, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon spoke before a bipartisan group of elected leaders in Los Angeles.
To bridge the gap while awaiting the housing's completion, De Leon called for state general funding of temporary rent subsidies worth four years close to $200 million. Based on the accumulated construction funds (federal and local money), a total of 10,000 to 14,000 units could be built to accommodate California's 100,000 homeless people, which happens to be the highest record of the nation since 2017.
With the issue of homeless people going worse over the last four years, the initiative would not have come at a better time two weeks before the city and the county of Los Angeles present separate plans for the matter.
The project would go under a housing-first model, which would grant housing to homeless mentally ill persons as well as alcohol and drug abusers regardless if they seek treatment.
The proposal, to be presented to the Assembly and Gov. Jerry Brown before the final budget in June, has drawn the applaud of homeless advocates and downtown leaders
"It's amazing," said Blair Besten, executive director of downtown L.A.'s Historic Core Business Improvement District.
Assembly Democrats, however welcoming with De Leon's particular interest on homelessness, stopped short of embracing his plan.
Previously backing affordable housing, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins is looking forward to find out the details.
"The proposal advanced by the Senate helps both houses-and both parties - start the year on the same page in making homelessness a top priority," Atkins said in a statement.
Meanwhile, while Mayor Eric Garcetti is approving of De Leon's leadership, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich sees an issue with how the initiative is somewhat leaving local leaders out of the funding decisions.
"Any directives by the state could undermine this expansion effort and delay progress being made in their own unique communities," Antonovich said in a statement.
