Swide is a Democrat. "Sometimes people return to the streets, sometimes they return to . Q: Has Project Roomkey achieved everything you hoped it would? So when you do all that math, youre looking at about 25,000 homeless people losing their lives from coronavirus. Turning money into beds takes years in my experience, Bell said, adding that there will be this gap period where the $1.5 billion has not translated into thousands of new beds.. Yes, it has. Newsoms administration believes that 7,000 to 12,000 people could qualify for the court-ordered care, a fraction of the estimated 161,000 people experiencing homelessness in California. But the question is are we doing better than previous models? And that can mean big vision things, and it also means the day-to-day of running a city. Q: What percent of Project Roomkey clients have exited to permanent housing? Graham Knaus, executive director of the California State Assn. And in this case, Homekey works. Are we doing much better than previous models? ', San Diego Gun Store Owner Sentenced in Firearms Sales Case Involving Ex-Deputy, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. The panels chairman, Assembly Member Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley), said in a statement that he shared many of the concerns raised by the opponents about the CARE Court bills.. But its a start, and more than California has done in a long time. Sabelhaus is a Democrat. Protect your nonprofit, nonpartisan state news. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. They cant take whats happening in encampments and tents.. 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. Jason Elliott, Newsom's 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. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Newsom has proposed pausing that increase for one year, a move that would save drivers about $1.30 per month, according to Transportation California, a nonpartisan business and labor coalition. But you also had to immediately get to work. 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. Workforce development for those skilled trades is going to be so essential.. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, said the governor's "hope and expectation is that this will be going out in short order." However, he added that the ball was in the court of . Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. Zoom chops nearly 200 jobs in Bay Area as tech layoffs mount Housing | contributed to the housing crisis in California and its So, in the course of just a few months you had three different mayors that you served as chief of staff. CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom and your tax-deductible donations help us keep bringing you and every Californian essential, nonpartisan information. Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. Katie Talbot, spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), said the idea would need to go through the policy committee process.. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Within hours, Lee died -- and Elliot had to step up to help keep the city running. 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. "California is responding to a crisis," tweeted Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor for housing and homelessness. And if the question is has it worked, I think unequivocally the answer is yes. His biggest challenges as we go to press are housing, homelessness and mental health care, issues that have dominated the states discussions this year, so he has his work cut out for him. Thats goal number one.. And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, runs point on homelessness for the governor. Previously, Figueroa was Director of Prevention for The California Endowment, the nations largest state-specific health care foundation. No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. Updated Aug. 9, 202\2 Want to see more stories like this? 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. Which is why we need the private sector to do what it does, which is to build housing.. So what of the slew of housing bills at the state Capitol? Not every participant would need to be homeless to qualify, but the Newsom administration expects CARE Court could help thousands of people who have spent years living without a home, as well as those cycling in and out of jails and hospitals. Castillo said the anti-poverty group will remain opposed to the CARE Court framework unless lawmakers address the concerns outlined in the letter, especially the plans failure to address access to housing and its insistence on empowering judges to mandate care. I think everyone thinks this is the year to really get things done, she said. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. 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. 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. Elliott acknowledged the state's behavioral health system has . He said the governor would generally support any move to change the default to yes on more housing. 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. 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. 4. Health | And he was a friend and a mentor, so it must have been an incredibly difficult thing emotionally. Housing policy advocates described Newsom's stated goal of 3.5 million new homes in four years the same way he has: aspirational. 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. 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. Under the proposal, family members, behavioral health care providers and first responders, among others, could petition a civil judge to initiate a CARE plan for eligible individuals who lack medical decision-making capacity. Richard Figueroa, 60, of Sacramento,has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. At the heart of Gov. Senator Alan Cranston, research assistant for the International Union of Radio, Electric and Machine Operators, AFL-CIO, and research aide to the National Sharecroppers Fund. 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. Newsom, wrapping up his week . To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. In LA they proposed more Homekey projects than we were able to fund. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. Hannah Wiley is a politics reporter for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau covering the California Capitol and state agencies. No, of course not. He said the question of how to close the homeless spigot is motivating them to think bigger and be more aggressive. Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. Gavin Newsom's proposal to send people another round of government checks, . Those concerns are likely to be raised as Newsom continues to conduct roundtable discussions with stakeholders throughout the state. Its not enough to put a noticeable dent in the massive crisis of human suffering on our streets. A moratorium until the end of time that doesnt provide a sufficient benefit to get people to enroll, Elliott said, trailing off. Want to see more stories like this? What could reparations mean for Black residents of Alameda County? 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. Subscribe to CalMatters free daily newsletter to get news and commentary that holds your elected leaders accountable. Were putting out more homeless housing through this program than we probably do in several years under normal circumstances. We worked 25 hours a day to design what eventually become Project Roomkey. 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. SACRAMENTO Newly sworn-in Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the addition ofseveral highly-accomplished public servants toExecutive Branch Operationswithin the Governors Office. We worked 25 hours a day to design what eventually become Project Roomkey. Earlier this month, Newsom billed the CARE Court proposal a departure from the status quo of addressing homelessness, addiction and mental illness in California. With a proposed budget of $4.3 million, the unit would hold cities feet to the fire when they break existing housing law, and help them take advantage of laws already in place that streamline regulations and permits. Mayors of some of the states most populous cities have endorsed the plan as a way to alleviate a humanitarian crisis in full display on their streets. Daniel Seeman, 33, of Sacramento,has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. Yes, it has. A, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, How California used COVID to create housing. In their 14-page letter, the advocates blasted the proposal as involuntary and coercive treatment that would strip individuals of their personal liberties and perpetuate institutional racism and worsen health disparities. They said CARE Court flies in the face of any evidence-based approach to ending homelessness because it prioritizes mental health services not housing as the initial step toward recovery, which they said would deviate from Californias housing first principles. 2. Housing | This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Yes, it has. And then the high risk factor you apply to that population. His sister is deputy chief of staff for the mayor of New Orleans and his cousin, who he grew up with, was chief of staff for the mayor of Portland. The CARE Court proposal promises behavioral health treatment, medication and a housing plan as tools to stabilize participants who struggle with addiction and untreated psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, for up to two years. Elliott spoke with this news organization about those programs, how they started, and where we go from here. What have you been trying to pass on to the people who are now going to come after you? Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. For all we knew, this was going to happen in a matter of weeks. But nowhere near the levels that I mentioned to you a moment ago we were fearing would come to pass. Is it the only thing we have to do to solve homelessness? Related Articles 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. And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. In LA they proposed more Homekey projects than we were able to fund. Before that, she worked for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf on her re-election campaign and managed the successful campaign of Shanell Williams forBoard of Trustees at City College of San Francisco. Clear out encampments, and at the same time connect people with housing and services. We couldnt control the outcome of the mayoral election, and my advice to staff and department heads was: Dont try to do that. And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. 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. Health | Some other highlights from the discussion: On home prices, Svec refrained from calling Californias housing market a bubble. She expects the housing market will remain much more stable this time around than after the 2008 foreclosure crisis, and doesnt expect prices to drop anytime soon. The program would be voluntary and include assistance from both a public defender and a so-called supporter, a person who would serve as a personal guide through the recovery process. Gavin Newsom, Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto, Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old daughter, Prior job: Chief of staff to San Francisco Mayors Ed Lee and London Breed, and policy director for Newsom when he was mayor. She wasthe Director ofExternal Affairs at the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento from 2013 to 2015 and was Deputy Appointments Secretary in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. from 2011 to 2013. Some were really good and some were not so good. In response, Jason Elliott, Newsom's top advisor on homelessness, said "every effort would be made to get them indoors." . Instead, the governor plans to increase . Housing | Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. But the question is are we doing better than previous models? Elliott: The job of a chief of staff is to implement the vision of the mayor that he or she works for. 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? Thats goal number one.. He is married to Nicole Elliott, director of the state Department of Cannabis Control. That has not happened here, the letter says. And that is great, but if you keep doing these interim housing solutions, you are not solving homelessness for them, you are hiding them.. View Jason Elliott's business profile as Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom. To move the needle, Elliott pitched the statewide Housing Accountability Unit, which Newsomproposed in his January budget. Jason Elliott, Gov. But the advocates are concerned about more than the courts and housing. Housing | He said the question of how to close the homeless spigot is motivating them to think bigger and be more. For all we knew, this was going to happen in a matter of weeks. Because for every person you bring inside, thats a person who has a sister whos worried about her. Our behavioral health system is stretched very thin.. Hironaka is a Democrat. So when you do all that math, youre looking at about 25,000 homeless people losing their lives from coronavirus. Gavin Newsom's adviser on housing and homelessness, said that while the state can build housing for homeless people and the very poor, the private sector is essential to easing the statewide housing shortage. So our responsibility now as a state is to continue to put fuel in the tank of this solution. That was the challenge we were facing. As senior counselor to Gov. Gavin Newsoms proposal to compel people into court-ordered treatment for mental illness and addiction is a sense of urgency to solve a decades-old crisis festering on Californias streets even if it means building the plane as it flies. 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. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said the issue is a high priority for her members, and appeared open to the idea of the proposal being worked out through the budget. Prior to working for Governor Brown,he served as a legislative consultant to State Senator Mark Leno, working on criminal justice issues, as well as privacy and technology. A: I remember it was a Sunday afternoon and I was walking my dog and I got a call from our then chief of staff Ann OLeary and she said I need you at (the Office of Emergency Services) right now. The governor also has political incentives to quickly install CARE Courts. 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. Hes the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. Housing | Elliott said the almost-certain recall facing Newsom later this year isnt affecting his positions on housing, either, pointing to the governors 2020 State of the State speech, where housing and homelessness took center stage. Those who would qualify are characterized by experts as the hardest to reach and most difficult to treat, largely because they have a variety of complex needs and are often hesitant to trust government intervention. What was the most difficult thing about navigating that? and we're trying to keep up and make sure that we can keep up with protecting Californians," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior adviser. As a result, the state has announced it will simplify the process toget more money out the door faster. Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month We have lost people back to the streets out of Project Roomkey. And at that point, we were modeling a 56% attack rate for the virus, meaning that we expected 56% of Californians would get coronavirus at some point during the outbreak. 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. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Are sale-leasebacks still a viable option? We dont have a concrete number, but you could assume we produce as a state maybe between 2,000 and 5,000 units of permanent housing in any given year. potential 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. Some were practical and some were impossible. The program would allow family members, behavioral health providers and first responders to ask civil court judges to order a clinical evaluation and, if necessary, implement a plan for a person in need. the free daily newsletter about California politics from the editors of Capitol Weekly. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. Newsom also proposed $1.5 billion in this years budget to boost Californias behavioral health housing stock and has funneled billions more toward housing options for people experiencing homelessness. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $130,008. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? Sabelhauspreviously served as a Special Advisor on Appointments and Public Safety for Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Before that, she was a Legislative Assistant at The Crane Group and a Research Assistant for the British ParliamentaryLabourParty. UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms LZe$h#0m1Nx@,Z@XO"F"K"]w8|qWWhh\6^i A: Both the Bay Area and Los Angeles have stepped up in incredible ways. We'll send you the top local news stories every morning at 8 a.m. By clicking subscribe, you agree to share your email address with Times of San Diego to receive our free newsletter and breaking news alerts. She previously covered startups and venture capital for the Bay Area News Group and prior to that court cases for The Recorder in San Francisco. Housing | Jason Elliott's Phone . This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $145,008. We have 108,000 unsheltered homeless people in California. California has about 30,000 to 35,000 shelter beds on any given night, almost all of which are filled. The answer is yes. Standing next to the governor on . In high school and for part of college, Elliott dreamed of becoming a journalist. 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. Gavin Newsom's adviser on housing and homelessness, said that while the state can build housing for homeless people and the very poor, the private sector is essential to easing the statewide housing shortage. 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. 1. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. Dee Dee Myers, another . Were putting out more homeless housing through this program than we probably do in several years under normal circumstances. "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. Related Articles No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. We need people to enroll. California has about 30,000 to 35,000 shelter beds on any given night, almost all of which are filled. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $166,404. Gavin Newsom. Can Newsom build on pandemic lessons to end homelessness? And its not something you ever picture doing. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100,008. Jason Elliott Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! We practice with legislation. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov. 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. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. Project Roomkey has sheltered more than 35,000 homeless Californians in hotels and motels throughout the state, giving people over 65 or with medical conditions a safer place to ride out the pandemic. After announcing the broad framework of his CARE Court plan, the real work begins for Gov. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. A governors signature does not build new units, he said. Marisa Kendall is a housing reporter for the Bay Area News Group who covers homelessness for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. "We knew that a proposal this consequential, a proposal that aims to change the status quo so deeply, wasn't going to be received unanimously, wasn't going to be received with everyone clapping and cheering . We have exploded in bringing more interim housing beds online. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Within hours, Lee died -- and Elliot had to step up to help keep the city running. Newsom calls for spending $12 billion more to end homelessness in California. But the bill may face a major hurdle once its heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Were heading down the same path here, Elliott said. Jason Elliott, Gov. a{ b8&F=>TVFPQn r endstream endobj 23 0 obj <>/Metadata 3 0 R/Outlines 7 0 R/Pages 20 0 R/StructTreeRoot 10 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences 41 0 R>> endobj 24 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 1441.5 891.38]/Parent 20 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 25 0 obj <>stream Secretly, he still does. We are not batting 1,000. Ive been really encouraged by the warm embrace of local leaders on Homekey. Jason Elliott, Newsoms top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal.