She also served as a legislative assistant in the Office of State Senator Mark Leno, and as acapital fellow in the Office of State Senator Denise MorenoDucheny. Callahan is a Democrat. The groups often have significant sway among liberal legislative Democrats, the kind of influence that could hinder Newsoms hopes for a new law to be in place by July 1. But the question is are we doing better than previous models? Voters have given Newsom poor reviews on efforts to stem the homelessness crisis, which is sure to come up in his opponents campaigns to block his reelection later this year. California's gas tax is 51.1 cents per gallon, the second highest in the nation. What have you been trying to pass on to the people who are now going to come after you? Thats goal number one.. Gov. Newson's Top Housing Advisor Says California Should 'Start with Because people just want to get people inside off the streets, Klasky-Gamer said. Stay up to date on the news you need to know. As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution Lagos: So you spent the last couple months helping London Breeds administration get settled. Were coming up with a completely new paradigm, a new approach, a different pathway, and its consistent with our values, Newsom said earlier this month when he announced the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. In the Bay Area, the median home price soared to an all-time high of $1.3 million and the statewide median home price broke $800,000 last month. Californians worry about economy, Dahle concedes to Newsom | The As senior counselor to Gov. And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. So I hopped in my car, drove over to Mather where OES is, and went into a conference room where the governor, Ann and a few others were, and sort of started at that point to realize how fundamentally this was going to change everything. Housing | One idea: expanding motel conversions, an emergency plan during the pandemic. of Counties, said new funding to bolster behavioral health infrastructure is appreciated, but would not be enough to infill decades of disinvestment in the workforce and treatment programs needed to make CARE Court successful. If they start listening to us and really take coercive approaches and court-ordered approaches off the table, I think theres more hope that we can work with them on something that we can all support, Imparato said. Subscribe to CalMatters free daily newsletter to get news and commentary that holds your elected leaders accountable. "Before we can reach our stretch goals, before you can reach the moon, you've got to get off the launch pad," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor on housing and homelessness. And that is great, but if you keep doing these interim housing solutions, you are not solving homelessness for them, you are hiding them.. Newsom campaigned on building 3.5 million homes. He hasn't gotten even We believe the answer is yes, and we are in the process now of doing some program evaluation to be able to back that up with data. And in this case, Homekey works. Project Roomkey was a public health emergency response to a once-in-a-century pandemic. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters. 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Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. That has some worried, California judges could order help for homeless Californians under Newsoms new plan, poor reviews on efforts to stem the homelessness crisis, What we know about Newsoms plan to compel care for homeless, mentally ill Californians, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. During a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly on Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsoms top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. So, Im gonna miss the troubleshooting with departments and mayor staff. Hes also been a chief deputy cabinet secretary, director of intergovernmental affairs, senior adviser, and more. Program to buy hotels for homeless people could get another influx of Homekey was able to produce 6,000 units in six months, at a third of the cost, in about a fifth of the amount of time it typically takes. We start with no. He also pledged swift action in the coming weeks to finalize the proposal and move it through the Legislature. As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution Jason Elliott, Newsoms top housing advisor, said it is up to the legislative leaders to determine the mechanism for implementation, but requested urgency to codify the law by July 1. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov. The State Building and Construction Trades Council has pushed to include a requirement in housing bills that would force the new units to be built with union labor. This is a very small segment of the population. CA mental health advocates criticize CARE Court homeless plan | The We started with a lot of ideas. So when you do all that math, youre looking at about 25,000 homeless people losing their lives from coronavirus. Newsom calls for spending $12 billion more to end homelessness in California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $166,404. Standing next to the governor on . During apanel discussion hosted by Capitol Weeklyon Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsoms top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. Housing | Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis Signs Legislation to Support States COVID-19 Preparedness, PHOTOS: Governor Newsom Visits Diablo Canyon Power Plant, More Time to File State Taxes for Californians Impacted by December and January Winter Storms, Governor Newsom on Read Across America Day: While Other States Ban Books, Were Helping Students Read, Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in 13 Counties Due to Winter Storms, Activates California Guard. Today, he announced: Jamie Callahan, 33, of Sacramento,has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. Has it helped us flatten the curve more broadly in California and protect our hospitals from overcrowding? Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. g 8 endstream endobj startxref 0 %%EOF 55 0 obj <>stream Newsom Campaigned on Building 3.5 Million Homes. He Hasn't Gotten Even He highlighted $12 billion in the governors budget proposal for housing and homelessness and $1.75 billion to kick-start building on more than 6,000 of backlogged affordable housing units. Hannah Wiley is a politics reporter for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau covering the California Capitol and state agencies. Our message to LA and the Bay Area and to everyone is: Project Roomkey is here and funded at least through September of this year, with 100% of the cost borne by the federal government. Its not enough to put a noticeable dent in the massive crisis of human suffering on our streets. Hironaka is a Democrat. From 2006 to 2010, she served four administrations in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Instead, California should invest in evidence-based practices that are proven to work and that will actually empower people living with mental health disabilities on their paths to recovery and allow them to retain full autonomy over their lives without the intrusion of a court.. But the bill may face a major hurdle once its heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. As health officials scrambled last March with shelter-in-place orders to slow the spread of COVID-19, Jason Elliott wastacklinganother seemingly overwhelming problem: How do we keep the more than 100,000 Californians sleeping on our streets from dying of the virus? The state must invest in permanent affordable housing options in addition to building interim units such as tiny homes and hotel rooms, she said. So, in the course of just a few months you had three different mayors that you served as chief of staff. The Bay Area has pulled together in a very interesting way and focused very much on prevention and stability, which is really good. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. Our behavioral health system is stretched very thin.. 1. Newsom included $3 billion in the budget last year to increase behavioral health housing by 22,000 treatment beds, and proposed another $1.5 billion this year to bump that number up to 33,000. Q: As a result of Homekey, the state has added more than 6,000 new long-term housing units in less than six months. UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms The State Building and Construction Trades Council has pushed to include a requirement in housing bills that would force the new units to be built with union labor. "California is responding to a crisis," tweeted Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor for housing and homelessness. And he was a friend and a mentor, so it must have been an incredibly difficult thing emotionally. Q: Describe what it was like in the governors office when the pandemic hit and you realized we could be dealing with a potentially devastating health crisis for our homeless population? Jason Elliott, 36, of Sacramento, is now serving as senior counselor to the Governor for housing and homelessness in the Office of the Governor, where he has served as chief deputy cabinet secretary. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this. To fundamentally alter the reality that we see on the streets requires us fundamentally altering our approach. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. Jason has 5 jobs listed on their profile. We practice for terrorism. Honestly sometimes when something is working, you dont tinker with it. That has not happened here, the letter says. In response, Fowler agreed that California, like the rest of the country, faces a severe shortage of labor, union or otherwise. But with so many other cost drivers such as skyrocketing lumber prices wages arent the problem. Six weeks after Gov. Receive a free briefing on your state every day.