On homelessness tour, Governor Newsom visits Exodus Recovery, Inc. in Fresno, which offers mental and behavioral health services to youth and adults in crisis
Governor will conclude his tour tomorrow in the Bay Area
Tour comes on the heels of the Governor’s proposed budget featuring more than $1 billion to fight homelessness, and order accelerating state action
FRESNO – On the third day of his statewide homelessness tour, Governor Gavin Newsom today visited Exodus Recovery, Inc., which offers mental and behavioral health services year-round to youth and adults in crisis. Many Exodus clients are homeless. In addition to mental health services, the center helps patients with resources, including housing opportunities, after their recovery, for a continuum of care.
The Governor met with current and former patients, and was joined by Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, Fresno City Council member Esmeralda Soria, who is a member of the Governor’s homelessness task force, and Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Mark Ghaly.
“We cannot talk about homelessness without recognizing that we need to do a better job to help people that are struggling and are challenged by mental health or addiction issues,” said Governor Newsom. “We need to meet this moral moment, and address this human crisis the only way humans can.”
Governor Newsom visits clients and staff at Exodus Recovery, Inc.
Last week’s 2020 budget proposal included a major new investment to reform Medi-Cal so that health providers transform health care to deliver integrated physical and behavioral health. The Medi-Cal Healthier for All Initiative will create additional supports and services for Californians who are experiencing homelessness.
The Governor has also released the full $650 million in State Emergency Homeless Aid and issued a challenge for cities and counties to partner with the state on immediate impact solutions to tackle homelessness. Of that, Fresno City and County stand to receive approximately $11.5 million.
Governor Newsom began the year by signing an executive order as part of a comprehensive state response to homelessness, including the creation of the California Access to Housing and Services Fund, expediting the availability of state land assets, and standing up a state crisis response team. The Governor’s action focuses on prevention and early intervention, moving people off the streets and providing them services, and creating new temporary housing to effectively reduce street homelessness.
Additionally, in his State Budget proposal released Friday, Jan. 10, Governor Newsom formally announced more than $1 billion in homeless response funding, including $750 million for this new Access to Housing and Services Fund, and a major new investment to reform Medi-Cal so that health providers transform health care to deliver integrated physical and behavioral health.
The Governor kicked off the tour on Monday in Grass Valley, where he visited two homeless service providers and shelters and county and city service providers. Yesterday, the Governor visited Riverside and Los Angeles, first stopping at an emergency shelter and the Riverside Access Center, which provides access to a wide range of services under one roof, including homeless street outreach, housing placement, employment development, and homeless prevention resources. Later in Los Angeles, he visited staff and residents at a board and care home.
Last year, the Governor signed 13 bills into law to help confront the homelessness crisis and others to fuel new housing development. In September, the Governor called on the Trump administration to increase federal investments in housing options for people experiencing homelessness and requested 50,000 additional Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers. In July, Governor Newsom announced regional leaders and statewide experts who will advise his Administration on solutions to address the state’s homelessness epidemic.
Governor Newsom will conclude his tour on Thursday in the Bay Area.
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