Although California faces a projected funds shortfall within the tens of billions of {dollars}, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed to earmark an additional $1 billion this upcoming 12 months for cities and counties to cut back homelessness whereas warning future state funds could solely be supplied below sure circumstances. The governor final week promised state funds for homelessness and housing could be untouched as he works with state lawmakers to fill a $22.5 billion funds hole however stated his administration needs to see extra transparency and accountability from native jurisdictions of their effort to get individuals off of the streets and into everlasting housing. “There’s simply going to must be penalties to unhealthy habits in the case of not acting on probably the most vital factor of the job that native authorities must do, and that’s the problem of addressing affordability and housing and homelessness,” Newsom advised reporters following his funds presentation on Jan. 10. “If we will’t clear up this encampment difficulty, if we will’t tackle what’s occurring, I’m going to be hard-pressed to make the case to the legislature to offer them one greenback extra.”The governor confirmed he has requested state lawmakers to place collectively proposed state legal guidelines that might maintain cities and counties accountable for leaving individuals on the streets and making housing unaffordable. Particular laws had not been filed as of Monday afternoon, however the governor stated a number of legislative leaders had been excited by carrying the proposal. Rep. Luz Rivas, D-San Fernando Valley, tweeted, “I’ve been working with advocates over the interim to develop strict accountability and ongoing funding. We’d like each to make true progress, and I will likely be introducing laws that does simply that.” Republican Meeting Chief James Gallagher stated he is involved accountability measures will not be honest for rural districts just like the one he represents. “Extra rural cities and cities do not have many assets,” Gallagher stated. “If we had a regional strategy, then there’s shared accountability; that appears extra of a fairer strategy.” As of Monday, state lawmakers had launched greater than a dozen payments associated to homelessness, together with a statewide ban on encampments close to faculties and childcare facilities and one other that might create a state company tasked with ending homelessness in California. This comes months after the governor rejected homelessness response plans throughout the state and blocked funds from cities, counties and organizations. He finally launched the cash after internet hosting an intervention with leaders throughout the state, the place he urged them to develop extra aggressive plans to reply to the problem. Newsom’s funds presentation final week kicked off his second time period as governor of California. He started his first time period in 2019 by suing the town of Huntington Seaside for an absence of inexpensive housing. His administration in August put the town of San Francisco on discover, stating it was the slowest metropolis within the state to maneuver on building initiatives for extra housing.