Governor Newsom joins pro Tem Toni Atkins in San Diego alongside hundreds of volunteers to help count the city’s homeless population
Yesterday, Governor Newsom announced that Los Angeles County will receive 30 travel trailers, as well as emergency medical tents, as part of the state’s accelerated action on homelessness
Governor issues call to action urging Californians to volunteer on Cesar Chavez Day to help individuals experiencing homelessness in communities across the state
Visit to San Diego comes one week after the Governor’s statewide homelessness tour, during which he met with individuals experiencing homelessness, service providers and local leaders
Governor encourages Californians to visit serve.ca.gov to find local volunteer opportunities
SAN DIEGO – A week after traveling the state meeting with individuals experiencing homelessness, service providers and local officials on the front lines of the crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom today joined Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and over 100 volunteers at the annual Downtown San Diego Partnership and Regional Task Force on Homelessness “We All Count” point-in-time count. The Governor and pro Tem began surveying the streets downtown at 4:30 a.m. and met several individuals experiencing homelessness in the hour they were out. They concluded the morning by touring PATH San Diego, where they prepared warm meals and met with dozens of volunteers who were on hand to feed homeless individuals.
“One thing I know, as a former county supervisor and county mayor and now as Governor, is that city hall can’t do this alone. There’s no compassion stepping over people on the streets or sidewalks. We rely on the hundreds of volunteers across the state to conduct these point-in-time counts each year so we get a clearer picture of just how dire this crisis is,” said Governor Newsom. “That’s why we’re in San Diego today – to be intentional about seeing those often overlooked. I thank pro Tem Toni Atkins for inviting me and for her leadership on this issue and I commend the volunteers for stepping up and being part of the solution to solving homelessness.”
The Governor called on every Californian to be part of the solution to tackling homelessness in their communities by launching a statewide day of action on Cesar Chavez Day (March 31). California Volunteers will collaborate with nonprofit organizations throughout the state to provide service opportunities and to support people without housing or shelter.
“Homelessness is one of the great social and moral issues of our time, and while I am pleased we have made important efforts through legislation and the budget, we know there is so much more to do,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins. “I commend Governor Newsom for his commitment to addressing the issue looking at the whole person who is experiencing homelessness as we continue to tackle this critical issue.”
Governor Newsom and pro Tem Atkins join volunteers for San Diego’s point-in-time homeless count, prepare meals at PATH San Diego.
For the first time ever, the Governor included ongoing money in the budget to build capacity with California Volunteers, the office responsible for empowering Californians to take action to improve their communities. Governor Newsom also asked Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday to make this the top priority for his office. Last week, California Volunteers unveiled a new website, serve.ca.gov, to connect Californians with volunteer opportunities in their communities.
“We need all Californians to engage in a real way on the big challenges facing our state,” said California’s Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “We need every Californian to step up and be part of the solution. We all have a responsibility to take action on homelessness and there is something for everyone to do.”
The Governor has released the full $650 million in State Emergency Homeless Aid – of which the County of San Diego will receive $8.9 million – and issued a challenge for cities and counties to partner with the state on immediate impact solutions to tackle homelessness.
The Governor last week traveled to Oakland, Grass Valley, Riverside, Los Angeles and Fresno as part of his statewide homelessness tour, during which he highlighted the state-local partnership to deploy travel trailers and medical services to assist individuals experiencing homelessness and met with staff and residents at shelters, a board and care home, and a crisis stabilization center.
The tour came on the heels of the Governor’s proposed budget, featuring more than $1 billion to fight homelessness, and an executive order requiring state agencies to take urgent and immediate action to make available state properties and facilities to rapidly increase housing and shelter options.
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