Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a historic bill to address homelessness and the housing affordability crisis at a press conference Monday in Sebastopol, Sonoma County.
One of the investments pledged as part of the California Comeback Plan, the historic $12 billion will go towards the construction of affordable housing and establishing services for the state's homeless population.
The investment is a correction of the systemic dismantling of the state's mental health supports beginning in the 1960s, said Newsom.
Since former Gov. Ronald Reagan destroyed these support networks across the state when forming his state budget in 1967, the state has had no intentionality, no focus in regards to these issues.
"We have a responsibility to make up for that," said Newsom.
For decades, it's been left to cities and counties to deal with the crisis, he said.
That changed in the last years of former Gov. Jerry Brown's recent term, said Newsom. The administration began forging those collaborations that led to this new plan.
"We took that baton two years ago," said Newsom.
The $12 billion dollar package will address housing, board and care, and services, building off the success of Project Roomkey and Project Homekey.
But the funds come with strings attached, designed to encourage more transparency and more accountability, said Newsom.
The plan includes the first accountability requirements in state's history. The governor didn't disclose details yet, but said for counties, there are six accountability metrics they need to fulfill along with recieving the funds. If the counties deliver on the plan, they could be entitled to an 18% bonus, he said.
"This is a new day," said Newsom. There are three things needed to make an impact on homelessness, he added. "You need to have a plan. The state didn't have one for decades. You need to have the resources. Even if they had a plan, they didn't have the money. And, three, you've got to have political will."
"All those three things are in evidence in the state of California today," he said.
