Elliott sidestepped another question, about whether the administration would seek to extend the statewide eviction moratorium, which is set to end June 30,as the state doubles its rent relief funds withan additional $2.6 billion from the federal government. But getting a good read on his thinking can be difficult. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this, Elliott said. Housing | Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters In summary Newsom calls for spending $12 billion more to end homelessness in California. Our behavioral health system is stretched very thin.. CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom and your tax-deductible donations help us keep bringing you and every Californian essential, nonpartisan information. The Bay Area has pulled together in a very interesting way and focused very much on prevention and stability, which is really good. 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Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. Q: Has Project Roomkey achieved everything you hoped it would? LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases 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. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. We practice for terrorism. Californias governor is fast-tracking a plan to compel people into court-ordered treatment, but a lot of details are still in question. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. 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. As senior counselor to Gov. Opposition mounts against Newsom's plan for court-ordered treatment of Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? Yes, it has. "Local government has a responsibility to put their hands up and be part of the solution," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor on housing and homelessness. The answer is yes. 4. Governor Newsom had previously announced Ana J. Matosantos as Cabinet Secretary, Jason Elliott as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Executive Branch Operations, and Angie Wei as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Policy Development. Because people just want to get people inside off the streets, Klasky-Gamer said. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. But the advocates are concerned about more than the courts and housing. . We have 108,000 unsheltered homeless people in California. Newsom's top housing adviser says 'start with yes' The Bay Area has pulled together in a very interesting way and focused very much on prevention and stability, which is really good. A:I dont want to leave your readers with the impression that Project Roomkey is going to once and for all solve homelessness in California, because its not. Updated Aug. 9, 202\2 Want to see more stories like this? Jason Elliott, Newsom's top housing advisor, said the governor's budget interlaces housing, cost-of-living and climate policies to simultaneously address California's top issues. Are we doing much better than previous models? Hopefully were starting to see more economic recovery coming out of COVID, although I do think its going to be a very uneven recovery, she said. Its a part of the population that has been suffering and languishing for so long, many of whom have been on the streets for literally years and years and some decades and at great peril to themselves, Sherin said. We knew that a proposal this consequential, a proposal that aims to change the status quo so deeply, wasnt going to be received unanimously, wasnt going to be received with everyone clapping and cheering, Elliott said. But it takes time to build capacity, said Phebe Bell, behavioral health director for Nevada County and the president of the County Behavioral Health Directors Assn. Elliott said that while the state can build housing for people experiencing homelessness and the very poor, the private sector is essential to easing the housing shortage. After announcing the broad framework of his CARE Court plan, the real work begins for Gov. But we can never let ourselves be stopped by feeling like were not making an impact. What was the most difficult thing about navigating that? How California used COVID-19 to create housing; a top Newsom adviser Thats goal number one.. Stay up to date on the news you need to know. Q: What percent of Project Roomkey clients have exited to permanent housing? The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. We are not batting 1,000. Clear out encampments, and at the same time connect people with housing and services. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. And that can mean big vision things, and it also means the day-to-day of running a city. Has it helped us flatten the curve more broadly in California and protect our hospitals from overcrowding? Newsom Offers Vacant Land for Homeless Shelters, but Local - KQED Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters. Concerns about rising crime and the homelessness crisis emerged as the top issues driving voter dissatisfaction with Gov. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. The proposal is so new there aren't many details. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. Callahan is a Democrat. You cant bid high enough on labor to get the folks you need so its kind of a moot point for the foreseeable future, he said. Q: As a result of Homekey, the state has added more than 6,000 new long-term housing units in less than six months. In LA they proposed more Homekey projects than we were able to fund. LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases, How California used COVID-19 to create housing;, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), How California used COVID-19 to create housing; a top Newsom adviser weighs in, Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month, LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday, As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution, UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms, LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases. To move the needle, Elliott pitched the statewide Housing Accountability Unit, which Newsomproposed in his January budget. And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. hbbd```b``Z""H>UD>&jH`AH2::30m\ Has it protected 35,000 homeless Californians? 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.. He said the governor would generally support any move to change the default to yes on more housing. And they argued the plan relies on a variety of concepts that are not clearly defined in the proposed legislation or in California law, which will result in confusion and inconsistent application of CARE Courts across the state. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters By CALmatters | It's scheduled to increase slightly for inflation on July 1. A top Newsom adviser weighs in, Opinion: Newsoms budget cuts threaten public health investment, Oakland airport passenger traffic shows steady post-COVID rebound, China dismisses FBI statement that COVID-19 likely leaked from Wuhan lab, Despite new state law, Antioch ends remote option for council meetings, Zoom chops nearly 200 jobs in Bay Area as tech layoffs mount. LZe$h#0m1Nx@,Z@XO"F"K"]w8|qWWhh\6^i A moratorium until the end of time that doesnt provide a sufficient benefit to get people to enroll, Elliott said, trailing off. Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month Through Project Roomkey, we increased the amount of shelter available in California by 50%, effectively overnight. China dismisses FBI statement that COVID-19 likely leaked from Wuhan lab So wed really like to see communities not only continue the portfolio that they have under Project Roomkey, but potentially expand it, and expand it significantly. Within hours, Lee died -- and Elliot had to step up to help keep the city running. Theyre just exhausted, Newsom said during the KQED interview. As a result, the state has announced it will simplify the process to get more money out the door faster. Please reload the page and try again. Gavin Newsom Age: 37 Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto Current home: Sacramento Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old. Gov. . Put that in context how big a deal is that in a state that for decades has struggled to build enough housing? Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. Six weeks after Gov. Its not enough to put a noticeable dent in the massive crisis of human suffering on our streets. And in this case, Homekey works. Newsom's top housing adviser says 'start with yes' - Daily News Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. You can find our submission guidelines here. 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. So our responsibility now as a state is to continue to put fuel in the tank of this solution. Newsom touted the CARE Court framework last month as an innovative strategy to guide an estimated 7,000 to 12,000 people into housing and much-needed treatment. Project Roomkey was a public health emergency response to a once-in-a-century pandemic. This is a very small segment of the population. Hopefully were starting to see more economic recovery coming out of COVID, although I do think its going to be a very uneven recovery, she said. A: California struggles and has struggled for decades to provide adequate housing for people experiencing homelessness. The second program,Homekey, created 6,000 units of long-term homeless housing in less than six months, by giving cities and counties the money to purchase hotels and other buildings, and expediting the permitting process. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. He said the question of how to close the homeless spigot is motivating them to think bigger and be more aggressive. Oakland airport passenger traffic shows steady post-COVID rebound potential During apanel discussion hosted by Capitol Weeklyon Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsoms top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. Earlier this month, Newsom billed the CARE Court proposal a departure from the status quo of addressing homelessness, addiction and mental illness in California. We need people to enroll. LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $145,008. Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. Gavin Newsom. In LA they proposed more Homekey projects than we were able to fund. He is married to Nicole Elliott, director of the state Department of Cannabis Control. 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. Elliott: The job of a chief of staff is to implement the vision of the mayor that he or she works for. By clicking subscribe, you agree to the Terms. Newsom Campaigned on Building 3.5 Million Homes. He Hasn't Gotten Even One example: a 2013 law designed to increase infill development in green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. Newsom dissed local applicants for seeming too complacent about a dire California problem, while the applicants retorted that the Newsom administration sent conflicting signals and that in any case, state lawmakers had inadvertently given them a financial motive to lowball their goals. Elliott said that the governor remains committed to the principles of housing first and that CARE Court would be one of many ways a person could access shelter. One example: a 2013 law designed toincrease infill developmentin green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built.