Homelessness

Now the hard work begins. So said Gov. Gavin Newsom at a Wednesday bill signing ceremony in San Jose about legislation he says is key to addressing one of California’s most glaring failures: The sheer number of people suffering from untreated mental illness living on our streets.  Newsom’s office first rolled out his Community Assistance, […]

In his first three years as governor, Newsom mostly acted through executive orders or the state budget. This year, he’s pushing more legislation as he builds his resume for reelection and, possibly, higher office. Key bills focus on climate change and homelessness.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed creating a Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Court, a new way to ensure that those who need care can get it and to enable the state to ensure that cities and counties expected to provide mental and behavioral health services are doing so.

The governor’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court plan has the potential to transform how we address homelessness in California — by requiring the government to act.

It is time for government at all levels to step up and create a statewide system to address homelessness.

An emergency housing voucher program offers improvements to the decades-old federal solution to the housing affordability crisis, but landlord reluctance remains a crucial hurdle.

California counties regularly take the Social Security benefits of foster youth who are disabled or whose parents have died. Advocates say it amounts to children paying for their own foster care.

“Mental illness. Substance abuse. Homelessness. These are all existential crises we have to address with urgency.” That was Gov. Gavin Newsom’s response to a key legislative committee on Tuesday passing his controversial proposal to allow courts to compel people with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders into treatment — the state’s latest attempt to […]

Much has been made about the persistent disagreement between Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers over how to put money back in the pockets of Californians reeling from high gas prices and the rising cost of living, but what about addressing the state’s perennial problem — housing? Don’t worry, there are disagreements there, too. The […]

In a 90-minute interview with CalMatters, Michael Shellenberger talks about why he left the Democratic Party, why he changed his mind on nuclear power and drug policy and how that would influence his plans as California governor