Concerns arise over California’s homelessness proposition exacerbating the issue

Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom is urging voters to approve a ballot initiative aimed at addressing the state’s homelessness crisis, a move that social providers argue could jeopardize programs preventing homelessness. In 2004, voters supported a legislation imposing a tax on millionaires to fund mental health services, generating annual revenues of $2 billion to $3 billion. These funds have primarily been allocated to counties to finance mental health programs according to broad guidelines.

However, Newsom seeks to grant the state more control over the allocation of these funds. Proposition 1, on the March 5 ballot, would require counties to allocate 60% of the funds to housing and programs for homeless individuals with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse problems.

The proposed formula would necessitate rural counties like Butte, with a homeless population of fewer than 1,300 people, to allocate the same percentage of funds to housing as urban counties such as San Francisco, which has a homeless population six times larger. While San Francisco Mayor London Breed supports the measure, Butte County officials have expressed concerns.

Currently, the funding from the millionaire tax in Butte County is mainly directed towards prevention services to combat high rates of suicide and childhood trauma. Officials estimate that they would need to redirect at least 28% of the current funding from existing programs to housing. They argue that this change could result in the loss of funding for cultural centers, peer-support programs, vocational services, and programs working with homeless individuals.

The potential closure of the African American Family & Cultural Center in rural Oroville, which heavily relies on mental health funding from the county, highlights the human impact of these changes. The center, which aims to break the cycle of trauma in the Black community, offers various programs, including an after-school program, art and dance classes, and anger management sessions. McCarter, the center’s executive director, expressed her concerns, stating that while she would love to solve the homeless problem, she questions which children they would have to leave behind.

Homelessness has become a deeply frustrating issue in California, with makeshift tents lining streets and disrupting businesses across the state. As a result, Newsom, a Democratic governor who has raised approximately $10 million to support the ballot measure, considers this initiative one of his top political priorities. He has already enacted laws that facilitate the involuntary treatment of individuals with behavioral health issues and sees Proposition 1 as the final piece of his comprehensive approach.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, the author of the 2004 millionaire tax, contends that the funding should primarily serve homeless individuals with serious mental illnesses. According to Steinberg, county officials and providers fail to grasp the bigger picture and the urgency of alleviating the suffering endured by those living and dying on the streets.

The two-part measure seeks to authorize the state to borrow $6.38 billion to construct 4,350 housing units, half of which would be reserved for veterans. Additionally, it aims to add 6,800 mental health and addiction treatment beds. Newsom’s administration has already allocated at least $22 billion to various programs intended to address the homelessness crisis, including the conversion of rundown motels into homeless housing and $2 billion in grants for the construction of treatment facilities.

Despite these efforts, the homelessness crisis continues to worsen in California. The state accounts for almost one-third of the homeless population in the United States, with approximately 181,000 Californians in need of housing. A recent survey conducted by the University of California San Francisco’s Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative revealed that roughly two-thirds of homeless individuals in California have a mental health disorder, but only 18% have received recent treatment, and a mere 6% have received addiction treatment.

According to researchers who testified before state lawmakers, the state requires an additional 8,000 beds to address mental health and addiction issues. California currently has only 5,500 beds, a significant decrease from the 37,000 available more than 50 years ago.

Advocates argue that the proposed measure could result in the involuntary treatment of more individuals in locked psychiatric facilities. Mark Salazar, the executive director of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco, opposes Proposition 1 based on humanitarian and civil rights perspectives. Salazar emphasizes that studies consistently demonstrate the negative outcomes associated with coercive treatment.

On the other hand, Mark Cloutier, the CEO of Caminar, a mental health service provider, supports the ballot measure, asserting that the lack of housing and treatment beds often leads to individuals ending up in jail or the emergency room. However, Joe Wilson, the director of Hospitality House in San Francisco, argues that while more housing and beds are necessary, other programs like drop-in centers should not suffer as a result.

Anthony Hardnett, a former homeless individual who now works at a drop-in center in San Francisco, emphasizes the importance of providing individuals with alternatives and opportunities to change their mindset. Hardnett believes that giving up on people is not a viable solution.

In Chico, a city in Butte County, providers fear that the city’s only drop-in center for troubled youth, the 6th Street Center for Youth, is at risk. This center also offers rent assistance to college students, but workers are skeptical that this would protect it from budget cuts.

Solace Kalkowski, who found themselves sleeping in their truck after a recent breakup, credits the center for preventing them from becoming chronically homeless. Kalkowski values the center as a healthy outlet where they can receive advice and work on personal development.

As California grapples with its homelessness crisis, the proposed ballot measure seeks to address this pressing issue. However, the potential consequences for existing programs and the diverse needs of different counties warrant careful consideration and a comprehensive approach to alleviate the suffering experienced by homeless individuals across the state.