Gov. Newsom Visits Southern California After Announcing Homeless Crisis Plan

Gov. Gavin Newsom was in Southern California Tuesday afternoon to announce what his office described as an initiative to clean and revitalize neighborhoods. 

Details about the announcement were not immediately available.

Earlier Tuesday, Newsom unveiled a $12 billion plan to tackle the state's homelessness crisis Tuesday, part of his proposed $100 billion California Comeback Plan. Newsom said the investment would provide 65,000 people with housing placements, more than 300,000 people with housing stability and create 46,000 new housing units.

The proposal includes an expansion of Project Homekey -- a program the governor's office says has provided shelter from COVID-19 to 36,000 Californians and created 6,000 affordable housing units.

The plan focuses on those with the most acute needs, with at least

28,000 new beds and housing placements for clients with behavioral health needs and seniors at the highest risk of homelessness.

He said the state will seek to functionally end family homelessness within five years through $1.85 billion in new housing for homeless families and $1.6 billion in rental support and homelessness prevention for families.

Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas hailed the  announcement.

“We won't make a difference unless we double down on our investments in prevention, street engagement, as well as interim and long-term affordable housing,'' he said. ``This is the lifeline we need to get to work and lay the groundwork for a Right to Housing in Los Angeles.''

Councilman Kevin de Leon also lent his support, saying the plan ``will mean the difference between having a home and sleeping on the street for thousands of Angelenos.''

The plan was assailed, however, by a pair of Republicans challenging the governor in an upcoming recall.

“Homelessness has skyrocketed by 10,000 people since Gavin Newsom took office,'' former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “No amount of money will solve this crisis without a leader who has the political will to buck the status quo and take bold actions to get people off the streets and indoors to receive the help they need.''

Faulconer touted his own record in San Diego, saying homelessness declined during his tenure, and said he could do the same for the state.

John Cox, a Rancho Santa Fe businessman and Newsom's Republican challenger in the 2018 gubernatorial race, also criticized the proposal.

“Gavin Newsom has had almost 20 years to address homelessness in California, first as mayor of San Francisco, then as lieutenant governor and as governor,'' Cox said. ``All we've seen is homelessness go higher and higher over the course of Gavin Newsom's 20-year political career. Now, facing a recall, he says his newest plan will take five years. We can't afford to wait that long.''