California governor proposes $12B to house state's homeless

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing $12 billion in new funding to get more people experiencing homelessness into housing

SAN FRANCISCO -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday proposed $12 billion in new funding to get more people experiencing homelessness in the state into housing and to “functionally end family homelessness” within five years. Newsom's plan was announced in a statement and he was expected to provide more details at a media event Tuesday morning in San Diego County. The first-term Democrat faces a recall election, mounted by Republicans and others unhappy with the way he has handled the pandemic, the economy and government. The nation’s most populous state county has an estimated 161,000 people experiencing homelessness, which is more than any other state. A new state database shows that nearly 250,000 people sought housing services from local housing officials in 2020. Of that number, 117,000 people are still waiting for help while nearly 92,000 people found housing.