Policy & Legislation
Planning Continues for Joint Legislative Committee on Homelessness
Assemblymember Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, continues to lead efforts to start a Joint Committee on Homelessness within the legislature. There is extensive interest in participation among members of both the Assembly and the Senate. Housing California and other advocates meet weekly with Assemblymember Lieber to shape the agenda and identify potential witnesses for future hearings.
The Joint Committee on Homelessness will likely hold several hearings throughout the state on a variety of issues, beginning with an overview of homelessness in California and the state's goals for tackling the problem. Hearings may then move on to specific strategies, which may include examining the relationship between the criminal justice system and homelessness, mental health and homeless courts, best practices in California and other states, a dedicated funding source for affordable homes and homes with services ("supportive homes"), and ways to increase the income-levels of California's homeless population.
The hearings will likely take place through the remainder of 2007, with the hope of generating bills that could be introduced in January 2008. This timing coincides with Housing California's December conference -- Creating Community 2007 -- during which the Homes to End Homelessness Coalition will set priorities for 2008.
Contact: Zack Olmstead, (916) 447-0503 x 108 or .
