WHEREAS, More than 171,521 people are experiencing homelessness in California today, and our dedicated homeless service providers are working each day to help individuals and families end their episodes of homelessness; and

WHEREAS, Our homeless service providers are dedicated workers from public and nonprofit organizations driven by a mission to serve people and help our most vulnerable communities; and

WHEREAS, The homelessness crisis is a function of Californias housing crisis, and the most substantial challenge providers face is the severe lack of affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, The homeless services sector has coalesced around the Housing First model, a guiding principle pioneered by Dr. Sam Tsemberis in the City of New York during the 1990s, which is now a nationally recognized best practice for ending homelessness; and

WHEREAS, Homeless service providers rely on their staff to implement an array of housing interventions, all tailored to the specific needs of the person; and

WHEREAS, Providers deliver a range of supportive services directly to people experiencing homelessness who are unsheltered, including outreach, street medicine, food assistance, benefit enrollment, rapid rehousing, veteran programs, housing navigation, and many more; and

WHEREAS, Providers across the state deliver services and basic needs at both congregant and noncongregant interim housing sites, as the stability of a short stay in a safe environment will enable participants to secure affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, Permanent supportive housing, seen as the best housing intervention for many people experiencing homelessness, provides case management and supportive services from the comfort and safety of a persons own home; and

WHEREAS, During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, providers were implementing innovative state programs, Project Roomkey and later Homekey, to keep our unhoused neighbors safe and healthy, proving that their staff members are essential workers; and

WHEREAS, California has increased investments to support workforce numbers; however, due to providers strained operating budgets and our general increases in costs of living, many of the dedicated staff of homeless service providers earn low wages and could be on the brink of homelessness themselves; and

WHEREAS, Contracting difficulties, low pay, emotional trauma, and competition with private labor markets present major challenges for public and nonprofit service providers in hiring and retaining these essential staff; and

WHEREAS, The dismaying increase of people experiencing homelessness in recent years has led providers to shift focus and resources towards prevention programs, targeting specific at-risk populations, such as seniors, people of color, women, youth, and LGBTQ+ individuals; and

WHEREAS, The inherent diversity of the homeless service provider workforce and the increased goal of recruiting more individuals with lived expertise improves the efficacy of the states homelessness response system, as staff are more representative of the unhoused population they serve; and

WHEREAS, Homeless service providers help participants, many of whose lives have been upended by trauma, move past these difficult circumstances to find housing and stability; and

WHEREAS, The states urgent mission of ending the homelessness crisis would be impossible without the resilience, compassion, and dedication of everyday Californians, and this recognition should encourage further action to improve the economic well-being of individuals dedicated to aiding the unhoused; and

WHEREAS, Homelessness Awareness Month is nationally recognized in the month of November to bring awareness to homelessness and related issues, including hunger awareness; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly recognizes and commends the invaluable service of our homeless service providers and their commitment to our shared mission to end homelessness during the month of November 2023, which is Homelessness Awareness Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

Date of Hearing: June 29, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES

James Ramos, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:HR 46 (

Author:Ward) – As Introduced Ver:June 14, 2023

SUBJECT: Homeless Service Providers.

SUMMARY: Recognizes November 2023 as Homelessness Awareness Month; and, commends the invaluable service of our homeless service providers and their commitment to our shared mission to end homelessness. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. The homelessness crisis is a function of California’s housing crisis, and the most substantial challenge providers face is the severe lack of affordable housing.
2. More than 171,521 people are experiencing homelessness in California today, and our dedicated homeless service providers are working each day to help individuals and families end their episodes of homelessness.
3. Our homeless service providers are dedicated workers from public and nonprofit organizations driven by a mission to serve people and help our most vulnerable communities.
4. Providers deliver a range of supportive services directly to people experiencing homelessness who are unsheltered, including outreach, street medicine, food assistance, benefit enrollment, rapid rehousing, veteran programs, housing navigation, and many more. They deliver services and basic needs at both congregant and noncongregant interim housing sites, as the stability of a short stay in a safe environment will enable participants to secure affordable housing.
5. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, providers were implementing innovative state programs, Project Roomkey and later Homekey, to keep our unhoused neighbors safe and healthy, proving that their staff members are essential workers.
6. California has increased investments to support workforce numbers; however, due to providers’ strained operating budgets and our general increases in costs of living, many of the dedicated staff of homeless service providers earn low wages and could be on the brink of homelessness themselves.
7. The dismaying increase of people experiencing homelessness in recent years has led providers to shift focus and resources towards prevention programs, targeting specific at-risk populations, such as seniors, people of color, women, youth, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
8. The state’s urgent mission of ending the homelessness crisis would be impossible without the resilience, compassion, and dedication of everyday Californians, and this recognition should encourage further action to improve the economic well-being of individuals dedicated to aiding the unhoused.
9. Homelessness Awareness Month is nationally recognized in the month of November to bring awareness to homelessness and related issues, including hunger awareness.

FISCAL EFFECT: None

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Erke / RLS. / (916) 319-2800