The cost of housing in California has skyrocketed, making buying or renting a home unaffordable for most everyone except high income earners. The lack of affordable housing places families in increasingly unstable living situations and is one of the causes of the homelessness crisis. People should have affordable options – and those who work here, including local teachers and firefighters, should also be able to afford to live here without it costing three-quarters of their income.

I’m pleased to report that I helped pass the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act of 2019 in the State Assembly. And I’m proud to have fought for a budget that increases job programs, such as California Work Opportunity grants, assists low-income families with paying for housing, food, and other necessities, and alleviates the factors that lead some people to homelessness. I also authored AB 1745 to protect tenants from having evictions added to their credit report. I will continue to make affordable housing a top priority.

For those already living on the streets or in their cars, the budget earmarks $675 million in funding for the construction and expansion of emergency shelters and navigation centers, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and innovative projects like hotel and motel conversions. These funds will go to cities and counties and will have accountability measures attached, including required reporting on how dollars will be spent to meet the goal of moving the homeless into permanent housing.