A:I dont want to leave your readers with the impression that Project Roomkey is going to once and for all solve homelessness in California, because its not. (Courtesy of Jason Elliott) Jason Elliott had been chief of staff to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for only about six months when he got the call last December that Lee was in the hospital. As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution A lot of smaller cities are not just making this San Francisco and Oaklands problem. Jason Elliott Senior Counselor & Director of Intergovernmental Affairs EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Sepi Esfahlani Assistant Director, External Affairs Elmy Bermejo . In response, Fowler agreed that California, like the rest of the country, faces a severe shortage of labor, union or otherwise. But with so many other cost drivers such as skyrocketing lumber prices wages arent the problem. We started with a lot of ideas. Newsom Alisa Hartz Brittiany Bearden Deputy Legal Affairs Kelli Evans Secretary Morgan Carvajal Luis Larios Special Assistant to Jay Jefferson Deputy Secretary & Gavin Newsom's adviser on housing and homelessness, said that while the state can build housing for homeless people and the very poor, the private sector is essential to easing the statewide housing shortage. Yes, it has. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov. And if the question is has it worked, I think unequivocally the answer is yes. He hasnt had a day off in months. 5. We knew that a proposal this consequential, a proposal that aims to change the status quo so deeply, wasnt going to be received unanimously, wasnt going to be received with everyone clapping and cheering, Elliott said. They said they worry that CARE Court would disproportionately target people of color, who are more likely to be homeless and diagnosed with psychotic disorders, and that CARE Court would enable unacceptable shortcuts in the legal system that could remove bodily autonomy and medical decision-making power. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! And that can mean big vision things, and it also means the day-to-day of running a city. Gavin Newsom, Elliott serves as the governors top housing and homelessness adviser. Senator Alan Cranston, research assistant for the International Union of Radio, Electric and Machine Operators, AFL-CIO, and research aide to the National Sharecroppers Fund. Housing policy advocates described Newsom's stated goal of 3.5 million new homes in four years the same way he has: aspirational. Gavin Newsom unveiled a far-reaching effort to push more people into court-ordered treatment for severe mental illness and addiction, homeless advocates are calling it legally misguided and immoral as the proposals first public hearing at the state Capitol has been delayed. Seeman is a Democrat. "Sometimes people return to the streets, sometimes they return to . Elliott said he was watching with glee the Biden administrations $5 billion proposal as part of his infrastructure planto encourage local governments to end exclusionary zoningand other practices. He hasnt had a day off in months. Over the coming months, he would advise two different mayors as the city went through a truncated and highly contentious special election to replace Lee. Jason Elliott had been chief of staff to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for only about six months when he got the call last December that Lee was in the hospital. Jason Elliott with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Lt. Gov. Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month Gavin Newsom helps clean a homeless encampment alongside a freeway in San Diego. Elliott said that while the state can build housing for people experiencing homelessness and the very poor, the private sector is essential to easing the housing shortage. But you dont practice for that. The proposal is so new there aren't many details. It's scheduled to increase slightly for inflation on July 1. So when you do all that math, youre looking at about 25,000 homeless people losing their lives from coronavirus. His sister is deputy chief of staff for the mayor of New Orleans and his cousin, who he grew up with, was chief of staff for the mayor of Portland. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this. One example: a 2013 law designed toincrease infill developmentin green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. Jason Elliott is the top housing adviser to Gov. Gavin Newsom. California weighs $360,000 in reparations to eligible Black residents, Majority of Hispanic Americans own a homeas incomes rise, Racial homeownership gap larger now than a decade ago, funded at least through September of this year, California Republicans give a boost to Florida Gov. To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy. Gavin Newsom's adviser on housing and homelessness, said that while the state can build housing for homeless people and the very poor, the private sector is essential to easing the statewide housing shortage. As soon as applicants sign a pledge to submit more ambitious targets and try harder in their plans for the next $1 billion grant the final round of flexible local homelessness funding approved in the 2021 budget the state will start cutting checks for this round, according to Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff. Standing next to the governor on . Between working on the states pandemic response seven days a week and raising a baby, theres very little time to do anything else. They cant take whats happening on the streets and sidewalks. He said the governor would generally support any move to change the default to yes on more housing. In the Bay Area, the median home price soared to an all-time high of $1.3 million and the statewide median home price broke $800,000 last month. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. One idea: expanding motel conversions, an emergency plan during the pandemic. By clicking subscribe, you agree to the Terms. He comes from a family committed to public service. Tell me about that transition and sort of what your role has been. 3. Has it protected 35,000 homeless Californians? Elliott said the almost-certain recall facing Newsom later this year isnt affecting his positions on housing, either, pointing to the governors 2020 State of the State speech, where housing and homelessness took center stage. In their 14-page letter, the advocates blasted the proposal as involuntary and coercive treatment that would strip individuals of their personal liberties and perpetuate institutional racism and worsen health disparities. They said CARE Court flies in the face of any evidence-based approach to ending homelessness because it prioritizes mental health services not housing as the initial step toward recovery, which they said would deviate from Californias housing first principles. Have it become a fundamental part of addressing homelessness in California. No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. Newsom has proposed pausing that increase for one year, a move that would save drivers about $1.30 per month, according to Transportation California, a nonpartisan business and labor coalition. For all we knew, this was going to happen in a matter of weeks. hbbd```b``Z""H>UD>&jH`AH2::30m\ Jason Elliott is a Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom based in Washington, D.C., District of Columbia. Figueroa is a Democrat. ChristineHironaka, 31, of San Francisco, has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. Gavin Newsom Age: 37 Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto Current home: Sacramento Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old. 1. UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms Because CARE Court will harm Californians with disabilities, experiencing homelessness, and involved in the criminal legal system, we cannot support this proposal., Cynthia Castillo, a policy advocate for the Western Center on Law and Poverty, said Newsoms plan seems to be expanding the bureaucracy of homelessness services.. Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis Signs Legislation to Support States COVID-19 Preparedness, PHOTOS: Governor Newsom Visits Diablo Canyon Power Plant, More Time to File State Taxes for Californians Impacted by December and January Winter Storms, Governor Newsom on Read Across America Day: While Other States Ban Books, Were Helping Students Read, Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency in 13 Counties Due to Winter Storms, Activates California Guard. Housing | Jason Elliott, Gov. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $145,008. Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. You know, we practice the earthquake. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. You can find our submission guidelines here. Marisa Kendall is a housing reporter for the Bay Area News Group who covers homelessness for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. The State Building and Construction Trades Council has pushed to include a requirement in housing bills that would force the new units to be built with union labor. We have lost people back to the streets out of Project Roomkey. So what of the slew of housing bills at the state Capitol? a{ b8&F=>TVFPQn r endstream endobj 23 0 obj <>/Metadata 3 0 R/Outlines 7 0 R/Pages 20 0 R/StructTreeRoot 10 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences 41 0 R>> endobj 24 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 1441.5 891.38]/Parent 20 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 25 0 obj <>stream Support for Capitol Weekly is Provided by: Jason Elliot. Instead, California should invest in evidence-based practices that are proven to work and that will actually empower people living with mental health disabilities on their paths to recovery and allow them to retain full autonomy over their lives without the intrusion of a court.. And it was one of the hardest days and some of the hardest weeks of my life, and I hope will be the hardest weeks of my life. Sabelhaus is a Democrat. Gavin Newsoms proposal to compel people into court-ordered treatment for mental illness and addiction is a sense of urgency to solve a decades-old crisis festering on Californias streets even if it means building the plane as it flies. Want to see more stories like this? Gov. Gov. Project Roomkey has sheltered more than 35,000 homeless Californians in hotels and motels throughout the state, giving people over 65 or with medical conditions a safer place to ride out the pandemic. Our message to LA and the Bay Area and to everyone is: Project Roomkey is here and funded at least through September of this year, with 100% of the cost borne by the federal government. 22 0 obj <> endobj 40 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<5AA7A98AB171764DBDDEB77ECF4D108A>]/Index[22 34]/Info 21 0 R/Length 99/Prev 82140/Root 23 0 R/Size 56/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream He also pledged swift action in the coming weeks to finalize the proposal and move it through the Legislature. Has the federal government embraced it and now is providing 100% reimbursement on the costs? Elliott said he was watching with glee the Biden administrations $5 billion proposal as part of his infrastructure plan to encourage local governments to end exclusionary zoning and other practices. Gov. "x|.gpr9w5+9VD34[1d3 k=D.$Y+P&@H)1IPv&cN}`r=(s6hYp4r>]dV>:pvV5R"F-"0%4X=?>RYQ;:h]"{A'`MW;J In response, Fowler agreed that California, like the rest of the country, faces a severe shortage of labor, union or otherwise. But with so many other cost drivers such as skyrocketing lumber prices wages arent the problem. Hes the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. So when you do all that math, youre looking at about 25,000 homeless people losing their lives from coronavirus. Our behavioral health system is stretched very thin.. But the advocates are concerned about more than the courts and housing. You cant bid high enough on labor to get the folks you need so its kind of a moot point for the foreseeable future, he said. He said the governor would generally support any move to change the default to yes on more housing. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. We have 108,000 unsheltered homeless people in California. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. The CARE Court proposal promises behavioral health treatment, medication and a housing plan as tools to stabilize participants who struggle with addiction and untreated psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, for up to two years. Jason Elliott: So for me, nobody takes a job of chief of staff thinking youre going to be the one who has to call the president of the Board of Supervisors at 1 in the morning. Some were practical and some were impossible. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, California judges could order help for homeless Californians under Newsoms new plan, What we know about Newsoms plan to compel care for homeless, mentally ill Californians, Gov. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. For all we knew, this was going to happen in a matter of weeks. CalMattersis a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? We worked 25 hours a day to design what eventually become Project Roomkey. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. We expected to have hard conversations with entrenched stakeholders.. We start with no. Elliott was joined on the virtual panel, moderated by CalMatters, by Jennifer Svec, legislative advocate for the California Association of Realtors; Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, a Democrat from the East Bay; and Adam Fowler, research director at Beacon Economics, all of whom agreed that a supply shortage was largely responsible for ballooning home prices. Opinion: Newsoms budget cuts threaten public health investment But we can never let ourselves be stopped by feeling like were not making an impact. Some other highlights from the discussion: On home prices, Svec refrained from calling Californias housing market a bubble. She expects the housing market will remain much more stable this time around than after the 2008 foreclosure crisis, and doesnt expect prices to drop anytime soon. But nowhere near the levels that I mentioned to you a moment ago we were fearing would come to pass. Newsom calls for spending $12 billion more to end homelessness in California. With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. Secretly, he still does. Protect your nonprofit, nonpartisan state news. 3. potential A governors signature does not build new units, he said. The transcript below was edited for brevity and clarity: Marisa Lagos: You step into these huge shoes, and then about six months later Mayor Ed Lee suddenly dies in the middle of the night. Were heading down the same path here, Elliott said. Through Project Roomkey, we increased the amount of shelter available in California by 50%, effectively overnight. Gavin Newsom Age: 37 Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto Current home: Sacramento Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old. Richard was also Legislative Director for Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and served as a Legislative Consultant for the California State Senate Insurance and Budget and Fiscal Review Committees. "The whole. We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. Are we doing much better than previous models? Lagos: So you spent the last couple months helping London Breeds administration get settled. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. They cant take whats happening in encampments and tents.. Project Roomkey was a public health emergency response to a once-in-a-century pandemic. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. That was the challenge we were facing. A: Thats a great question and I wish I had a more straightforward answer for you. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. We practice with legislation. Hironaka is a Democrat. You just let it keep rolling. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this, Elliott said. Titles are always hard to figure out in the Newsom administration, and nowhere is that truer than with Jason Elliott, a senior counselor to the governor. 2. A: Thats a great question and I wish I had a more straightforward answer for you. Elliott: The job of a chief of staff is to implement the vision of the mayor that he or she works for. No, of course not. Sign up for The Roundup, Two Democrats have already introduced a bill that parallels the governors proposal. We are not batting 1,000. Newsoms administration believes that 7,000 to 12,000 people could qualify for the court-ordered care, a fraction of the estimated 161,000 people experiencing homelessness in California. And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. But we can never let ourselves be stopped by feeling like were not making an impact. Lagos: London Breed became acting mayor, but she was only in that position for a couple of months before the Board of Supervisors controversially replaced her with interim Mayor Mark Farrell, and then of course London Breed got elected. We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. Concerns about rising crime and the homelessness crisis emerged as the top issues driving voter dissatisfaction with Gov. Yes, it has. We believe the answer is yes, and we are in the process now of doing some program evaluation to be able to back that up with data. We're not always successful," Jason Elliott, Newsom's top advisor on homelessness, told CapRadio after the speech. On the eviction moratorium, Wicks said she was working closely with Assemblymember David Chius office to make sure tenants are protected but landlords receive missed back rent. So theres something about continuity that underpinned how we moved forward through those next few days. Theyre just exhausted, Newsom said during the KQED interview. Secretly, he still does. At the heart of Gov. But getting a good read on his thinking can be difficult. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, runs point on homelessness for the governor. NettieSabelhaus, 71, of Sacramento,has been appointedSpecial Advisor on Public Safety. Getting cities and counties to say yes to housing is a long battle in California. Elliott said that while the state can build housing for people experiencing homelessness and the very poor, the private sector is essential to easing the housing shortage. and we're trying to keep up and make sure that we can keep up with protecting Californians," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior adviser. LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases Steer more federal dollars into homeless response. Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. Yes, it has. Health | And in this case, Homekey works. You cant bid high enough on labor to get the folks you need so its kind of a moot point for the foreseeable future, he said. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms Project Roomkey has sheltered more than 35,000 homeless Californians in hotels and motels throughout the state, giving people over 65 or with medical conditions a safer place to ride out the pandemic. Callahan served as the Chief Executive Officer of the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit. Q: How did the impact of the pandemic, and the response, differ in the states two regions with the worst homelessness crises the Bay Area, and Los Angeles? The big takeaway: California is millions of. She previously covered startups and venture capital for the Bay Area News Group and prior to that court cases for The Recorder in San Francisco. And they argued the plan relies on a variety of concepts that are not clearly defined in the proposed legislation or in California law, which will result in confusion and inconsistent application of CARE Courts across the state. California has about 30,000 to 35,000 shelter beds on any given night, almost all of which are filled. Newsom included $3 billion in the budget last year to increase behavioral health housing by 22,000 treatment beds, and proposed another $1.5 billion this year to bump that number up to 33,000. That has some worried, California judges could order help for homeless Californians under Newsoms new plan, poor reviews on efforts to stem the homelessness crisis, What we know about Newsoms plan to compel care for homeless, mentally ill Californians, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? Gavin Newsom. The governors new plan to create a court-ordered treatment effort is being sharply criticized by anti-poverty groups and civil libertarians. Housing | We started with a lot of ideas. Workforce development for those skilled trades is going to be so essential.. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Gov. After announcing the broad framework of his CARE Court plan, the real work begins for Gov. They say that's because the state doesn't build housing in . Please reload the page and try again. We are not batting 1,000. We have the wrong reflex around housing in the state. This is a part-time position and does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation $81,897. Jason Elliott Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. Its not enough to put a noticeable dent in the massive crisis of human suffering on our streets. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. So I hopped in my car, drove over to Mather where OES is, and went into a conference room where the governor, Ann and a few others were, and sort of started at that point to realize how fundamentally this was going to change everything. Ive been really encouraged by the warm embrace of local leaders on Homekey. That was the challenge we were facing. No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. With a key legislative deadline next week, Newsoms housing adviser speaks about the governors priorities on affordable housing. Lets start with yes, unless theres a reason not to build.. Some other highlights from the discussion: On home prices, Svec refrained from calling Californias housing market a bubble. She expects the housing market will remain much more stable this time around than after the 2008 foreclosure crisis, and doesnt expect prices to drop anytime soon. He highlighted$12 billion in the governors budget proposalfor housing and homelessness and $1.75 billion to kick-start building on more than 6,000 of backlogged affordable housing units. Sign up below, then look for a confirmation email in your inbox. View Jason Elliott's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Q: Has Project Roomkey achieved everything you hoped it would? Local governments face sanctions if they do not comply with program requirements. Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. In LA they proposed more Homekey projects than we were able to fund. One example: a 2013 law designed to increase infill development in green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. Mayors of some of the states most populous cities have endorsed the plan as a way to alleviate a humanitarian crisis in full display on their streets.