Contributor: If state funding vanishes, California’s homelessness crisis will explode

As two former members of the California Legislature, we perceive the complexities and hard fiscal selections that include a tightly constrained price range. As mayors of two of California’s largest cities, and members of the state’s Huge Metropolis Mayors coalition, we additionally know the devastating penalties of abandoning a statewide dedication to deal with the homelessness disaster — a disaster pushed by many years of underinvestment and insufficient housing manufacturing.

Homelessness is by far probably the most urgent concern dealing with communities up and down California, and the cash the state has invested by means of the Homeless Housing, Help and Prevention Grant Program, often called HHAP, has had an infinite impression on our skill to get unhoused folks off our streets.

That’s why we’re involved that the proposed state price range doesn’t embrace one other spherical of funding for this system. HHAP grants — which for California’s greatest cities, with the largest homeless populations, run into the thousands and thousands of {dollars} — are important to fulfill the purpose of decreasing encampments and getting unsheltered Californians on a path to everlasting housing. Merely put, with out these grants the state’s homelessness downside will balloon.

Because of HHAP, our two cities have seen vital reductions in homelessness. In January, San Diego’s point-in-time rely showed a 14% drop in contrast with 2024. Sacramento, the place the newest rely was final yr, achieved a 29% drop over two years. Earlier rounds of HHAP funding allowed us to develop modern, domestically tailor-made options, leading to actual progress for 1000’s of our most susceptible residents. Since HHAP’s inception in 2019, California’s 13 largest cities have used the state funds to create 17,691 shelter beds, join greater than 152,000 folks to shelter, construct 2,295 everlasting housing models and place 42,215 Californians into momentary or everlasting housing options.

In Sacramento, HHAP assets assist greater than 1,300 models of emergency shelter and a whole lot of everlasting supportive housing models. San Diego has doubled its citywide shelter capability, expanded avenue outreach groups and created new interventions, together with its Secure Parking Program for folks dwelling of their vehicles.

We perceive that addressing homelessness is expensive, and but leaving folks on the streets is much costlier. Our law enforcement officials and firefighters discover themselves on the entrance traces of the disaster, and that drives up prices for taxpayers. Companies and faculties are left to select up the tab, too.

We acknowledge the significance of accountability. Our backgrounds as former legislators have taught us the worth of fiscal accountability, transparency and exhibiting outcomes with public {dollars}. California’s huge cities are dedicated to making sure HHAP funds are spent properly and successfully. Huge Metropolis Mayors tracks and stories how HHAP {dollars} are used, and we welcome further oversight to make sure each greenback achieves most impression.

The information show that earlier state investments are making an actual distinction. However the scale of the disaster calls for sustained funding. We’re at a important juncture. Because the Trump administration retreats from its duties on homelessness, it’s extra necessary than ever for California to steer.

The human price of inaction is immense. Each day, we see the faces of those that are struggling — veterans, households, youngsters and folks with disabilities. And daily, we see what’s potential when somebody is moved from the sidewalk into shelter after which into a house.

We urge the Legislature to fulfill this second by totally funding HHAP at $1 billion — with a state general fund of greater than $225 billion to work with, that ought to be potential.

The problem of homelessness will not be insurmountable — however we can’t afford to go backward. With assist, our cities can proceed their work making homelessness within the Golden State uncommon, temporary and non-recurring.

Todd Gloria is the mayor of San Diego and Kevin McCarty is the mayor of Sacramento. Each are former members of the California Legislature, and members of the 13-city California group Huge Metropolis Mayors.