Homelessness Crisis Defines Newsom’s State of the State Address

In his second State of the State speech, Gov. Gavin Newsom put his focus on California’s homelessness crisis, calling for new shelters and supportive housing to be exempted from key environmental laws that restrict development, with a pilot project now underway in LA.

California is home to more than 150,000 homeless people, nearly a quarter of the nation’s total. According to opinion polls, homelessness is the top issue that residents want the governor and state Legislature to address.

Newsom vowed action, and, along with $1 billion set aside in recent years to alleviate the crisis, he added an additional $750 million in the proposed budget for this fiscal year to increase housing and shelter options throughout the state.

“In a politically polarized world, liberals and conservatives blame one another for these failures,” Newsom said. “Historically speaking, though, both are right. It’s time to stop pointing fingers and join hands.”

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