News & Updates - Press Release: California Business Roundtable Statement on Increased Funding for Homelessness Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2019
SACRAMENTO—California Business Roundtable President Rob Lapsley issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement today that he will support the request of the Big City Mayors to provide additional one-time funding to help address the state’s homelessness crisis:
“The Business Roundtable strongly supported the Big 11 Mayors’ call for $1.5 billion in one-time funding last year, which resulted in a final budget deal that allocated $500 million to this important cause.
“This year, we continue to support the Big City Mayors’ request for additional one-time funding. Homelessness remains a public health and humanitarian crisis. Dedicating additional one-time funding from the state’s nearly $20 billion surplus will help cities and counties continue to provide immediate, short-term solutions to this crisis.
“As we continue to support additional one-time budget allocations, we also support the creation of an annual report to the governor and Legislature that evaluates metrics and provides important data that can be used to better inform investments in the future.
“While this money will help with short term needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, we also support the governor’s ongoing efforts to address the only permanent solution to this crisis—building more affordable and market-rate housing in California.”
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