(FOX40.COM) — California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill Sunday to unite cities in Sacramento County under a regional housing and homelessness joint powers authority composed of elected officials.
The bill will enact a policy to enforce a more coordinated effort among elected officials on regional homelessness issues, altering the roles of nonprofit organizations like Sacramento Steps Forward.
This comes after funding from Sacramento County and Sacramento Steps Forward of $450 million to address homelessness over the past 4 1⁄2 years, as well as a steady increase in overall homelessness among varied local communities.
Senator Angelique Ashby, who proposed the bill, cited Sacramento’s “fractured” response to homelessness and an uncoordinated system for planning among nonprofit organizations, municipal departments and independent planning bodies. Ashby also said that smaller regions are given “little to no governing authority when decisions are being made” in a news release.
The bill calls upon the cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights and Folsom to form the joint powers authority (JPA). Although a lasting regional entity has yet to be established, Newsom said the legislation proposes a firm timeline and demonstrates a commitment to the effort.
The JPA’s establishment was initially recommended by the city and county of Sacramento in 2010, but was never fully considered and enacted until this year.
“This new authority offers Sacramento an opportunity to build on the important
work already underway and strengthen the delivery of housing and services,” Gov. Newsom said in a separate bill statement. “By establishing a framework for the region to pursue shared goals with clearly defined responsibilities, this partnership can help more people move from
homelessness into safe, stable, permanent housing.”
The bill is set to take effect by Jan.1, 2028.
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