Skinner and Beall’s Funding to Reduce Homelessness Clears Key Committee

SB 912 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Senator Jim Beall (D-Campbell) was passed by the California State Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on Tuesday. The bill now goes to Senate Appropriations. SB 912 would direct $2 billion of this year’s unanticipated revenue to provide homeless and affordable housing, and homeless services.

“Driving past tents huddled under an overpass, seeing vehicles that people obviously live in, or passing the all too familiar doorway lined with cardboard and a sleeping bag reminds us that we have over 100,000 homeless Californians,” said Senator Skinner. “So many of our neighbors going without a roof over their heads in the world’s fifth largest economy is simply not right.”

Under SB 912, California would help fund local and statewide efforts to get homeless individuals and others into new and existing housing.  SB 912 would augment funding recently adopted by the legislature, including No Place Like Home, SB 2—a fee on certain real estate transactions, and SB 3—the housing bond before the voters this November. Together with SB 912, these actions will provide more than $7 billion in state investment to fund affordable housing, veterans housing and housing for the homeless. 

Some portion of the funding is designated for housing homeless youth, veterans and low-income families receiving subsidized healthcare. Cities, counties and non-profit agencies would be expected to provide some level of local match to receive these state funds.

“SB 912 brings state and local government together to alleviate the suffering caused by our homelessness crisis,” said Senator Skinner. “Homelessness is costing California lives and money—the time to tackle it is now.”

Senator Nancy Skinner (@NancySkinnerCA) represents the 9th Senate District. She serves as Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee and the Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety and the Judiciary.
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