Continuing a statewide tour, Gov. Gavin Newsom visited a mental health crisis center in Fresno on Wednesday, announcing that $11.5 million in help is coming to the area.
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“This issue is a crisis. It’s a state of emergency. People are down on the streets and sidewalks. There is no compassion stepping over people.”— Gov. Gavin Newsom
The funding will be in the form of emergency grants for the city and Fresno County.
“Enough is enough. We got to own this. We got to meet this moment. This issue is a crisis. It’s a state of emergency,” Newsom said. “People are down on the streets and sidewalks. There is no compassion stepping over people.”
Newsom is spending this week touring facilities that provide services for the homeless. Last week, he announced $1 billion in the state budget in homeless response funding.
“Shelter solves sleep. Housing and supportive services solve homelessness as we frame a housing first model,” Newsom said.
Brand: Equitable Distribution of Beds
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand said the money won’t come all at once as Newsom implied, rather over four-to-five years. It will be used to expand the 241 emergency beds available now to the homeless.
“It is not going to be in one area of town,” Brand said as to where more bed space would go. “It’s going to be done on a fair and equitable basis … we don’t want to have one massive encampment in one area.”
The mayor also wants more mental health services.
Support for Low Barrier Shelters
Newsom said that if homeless people refuse services, service providers just need to keep on trying.
The governor discussed the many restrictions shelters may have, including being clean and sober.
“I love that. The clean and sober is one of the biggest damn mistakes this country ever made,” Newsom said.
He said he “self medicates” with a nightly glass of wine and understands why the homeless do as well.
“It is hard to moralize that (clean and sober requirements). My point is, we have to provide more options, more choices,” Newsom said.
100 in 100 Challenge
Newsom said he wants to implement a challenge to cities — in 100 days, he wants 100 people off the streets. But, it could be “100 whatever” Newsom added, saying local jurisdictions could alter the incentive for their needs.
“It is not going to be in one area of town. It’s going to be done on a fair and equitable basis … we don’t want to have one massive encampment in one area.” — Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, talking about where to provide shelter for homeless people
He added that of the $750 million for his Access to Housing and Services Fund going to regions “there will be contracted obligations to put (the region’s) goals out in transparent ways and meet and measure those goals and finance those goals. That is something we’ve never done on a regional basis.”
For Brand, his first goal is to end the increase in homelessness.
“The first is to maintain (so we) don’t go any higher. After that is dropping it slowly by introducing all these services and having the funding, which is the key thing, to do a variety of services, learning from what you are doing, not throwing money away,” Brand said.
The next point-in-time homeless count is Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Newsom Wants to Hold Cities, Counties Accountable
Newsom said he supports a plan announced this week by his Council of Regional Homeless Advisors to hold cities and counties accountable to address the problem. That could come in the form of a state constitutional amendment on the November 2020 ballot.
“You have to meet the moment with more than just encouragement,” Newsom said. “I am frustrated as you are. The difference is I have a deep sense of responsibility and I want to meet this moment and do justice to that anxiety.”
Newsom said they are working on the details but are sensitive to local needs as he turned to Brand and Fresno City Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria. The councilwoman toured the mental health crisis center with Newsom and stood by his side for the news conference.
Soria serves on the governor’s homeless advisory group.
Curiosity drives David Taub.
The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices.
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Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man).
Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl.
When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games.
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue!
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