More than 100 advocates with lived experience of homelessness, policymakers, affordable housing providers, and grassroots community organizations rallied to call on the Governor and legislators to support the California Housing Justice Act (AB1165).
“We have ongoing funding for public education, healthcare, and transportation—why don’t we have it for housing and homelessness?” said Assemblymember Mike Gipson. “The Housing Justice Act says housing is a human right in California. It gives us a strategic roadmap to end homelessness and Californian’s housing affordability crisis.”
Homelessness is a top concern among California voters and politicians alike. However, in contrast to major annual budget allocations to public education, healthcare, behavioral health, and transportation, ongoing investments in housing and homelessness account for less than 0.5 percent of the state’s annual budget.
About 771,000 Americans experienced homelessness in January 2024, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In terms of raw numbers, more people experienced homelessness in California than in any other state, a total of 187,084.
“Housing is a human right. It is also intrinsically connected to our civil rights. Without stable housing, freedoms like privacy and equal protection under the law are at risk,” said David Trujillo, executive director of ACLU California Action. “While short-term investments in housing via bonds and one-time revenue sources provide needed emergency responses, California must act boldly to address this issue truly. AB 1165 will create a permanent funding source in California that funds rental subsidies, affordable housing, and services. This is a critical step to address our state’s affordability crisis and provide the resources Californians need.”
The ongoing funding proposed by AB1165 would be transformative: local homeless response systems could build capacity, support the frontline workforce, sustain the success of critical programs like Project Homekey, and bring more people home.
“Homes end homelessness. Making sure people have a place to call home is the biggest thing we can do to end the crisis, especially for those leaving jails and prisons,” said Tim Heavin, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) CA State Policy Advisory Committee member and housing advocate with lived expertise in homelessness. “Every year, thousands of people released from California’s institutions face numerous barriers to obtaining housing. They face the stigma of incarceration or criminal-record screening policies that limit the housing they can get. Many fall into homelessness. We have a chance to change this and give our neighbors who have paid their debt to society a chance to come home.”
The legislation will be referred to the committee and must be passed by both legislative houses by September 12 and signed by the Governor to become law.
“Far too many of our neighbors are struggling to pay rent, afford their mortgage, and stay in the communities they love, and it’s time for the Legislature to take bold action to prevent homelessness before it happens,” said Assemblymember Catherine Stefani. “That’s why I’m proud to join Assemblymember Buffy Wicks in advancing AB 804, which leverages Medi-Cal benefits to support those experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes.”
