Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a homeless task force to find successful programs at the local level to bring to scale. The Homeless and Supportive Housing Advisory Task Force is co-chaired by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas. This follows Newsom’s announcement to allocate $1 billion of the state budget for homeless solutions. The budget still needs to be approved by the state Legislature. “We’ve got work to do. It’s a national disgrace. It’s on our watch,” Newsom said. “This is the issue that ultimately defines our failure as a society. We must own that and do something about it.”What will the task force do?Steinberg and Thomas will tour the state and country looking at successful programs to combat homelessness. They then will produce detailed recommendations to bring the program to scale with the $1 billion in proposed funding. Newsom also named Dr. Tom Insel as an adviser to develop strategies on mental health issues. “Natural disasters. There is no question we will house them quickly. It’s the right thing to do. Not so with homelessness,” Steinberg said. “It’s complicated. But in some way, collectively, we’ve shrugged our shoulders.”Has this been done before?At the local level, yes. For example, Sacramento and San Francisco, with then San Francisco Mayor Newsom, embarked on 10-year plans. Homelessness has grown since then. Newsom said this is a first statewide initiative. “The state of California has never had a homeless plan,” Newsom said. “That’s extraordinary, but it’s a fact.” When will this begin?Once the state budget is approved, Newsom will begin appropriating the proposed $1 billion in funding. Steinberg and Thomas will begin traveling by July. The task force will produce at least one annual report.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a homeless task force to find successful programs at the local level to bring to scale.

The Homeless and Supportive Housing Advisory Task Force is co-chaired by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas. This follows Newsom’s announcement to allocate $1 billion of the state budget for homeless solutions.


The budget still needs to be approved by the state Legislature.

“We’ve got work to do. It’s a national disgrace. It’s on our watch,” Newsom said. “This is the issue that ultimately defines our failure as a society. We must own that and do something about it.”

What will the task force do?

Steinberg and Thomas will tour the state and country looking at successful programs to combat homelessness. They then will produce detailed recommendations to bring the program to scale with the $1 billion in proposed funding.

Newsom also named Dr. Tom Insel as an adviser to develop strategies on mental health issues.

“Natural disasters. There is no question we will house them quickly. It’s the right thing to do. Not so with homelessness,” Steinberg said. “It’s complicated. But in some way, collectively, we’ve shrugged our shoulders.”

Has this been done before?

At the local level, yes. For example, Sacramento and San Francisco, with then San Francisco Mayor Newsom, embarked on 10-year plans. Homelessness has grown since then.

Newsom said this is a first statewide initiative.

“The state of California has never had a homeless plan,” Newsom said. “That’s extraordinary, but it’s a fact.”

When will this begin?

Once the state budget is approved, Newsom will begin appropriating the proposed $1 billion in funding.

Steinberg and Thomas will begin traveling by July. The task force will produce at least one annual report.