Gloria-led coalition visits state Capitol to push for homeless funding

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Big City Mayors Coalition, chaired by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, were at the state Capitol Tuesday urging Gov. Gavin Newsom and state leaders not to cut funds to the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Grant Program, or HHAP.

“Since the state started funding HEAP and HHAP, the 13 largest cities in California have funded 15,772 temporary and permanent shelter beds,” Gloria said.

Since 2018, California has provided HHAP grants to local governments for homeless services like the San Diego Regional Task Force On Homelessness on a one- time basis; however, the state is facing a $17 billion budget shortfall, and HHAP is currently not funded.

“Today we are here to urge state leaders to fully fund HHAP round six at no less than $1 billion and we are asking leaders to make this funding permanent.”

Over the past five years, the state has spent $24 billion to address the homeless crisis. In San Diego over the last 24 months, those becoming homeless has outpaced those who find housing. The mayor addressed a recent audit that found poor accountability on the success or lack of in tracking funding.

“Our cities are spending local state funding programs on facilities that get people off the streets in shelters and housing homelessness. We also agree that tracking and reporting data on our outcomes is important. That’s why our mayors have come together today, with data prepared that clearly shows the enormous impact HHAP is having.”

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