Workforce development for those skilled trades is going to be so essential.. We practice for terrorism. Yes, it has. And making sure as the city was grieving, as we personally were grieving, that people getting up the next morning could go and get on Muni, and if they called 911 that the police would show up, and if they wanted to go to the park, that the park would be open. Which is why we need the private sector to do what it does, which is to build housing.. A moratorium until the end of time that doesnt provide a sufficient benefit to get people to enroll, Elliott said, trailing off. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, Newsoms new push for homeless mental health treatment lacks details. 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. He comes from a family committed to public service. We dont have a concrete number, but you could assume we produce as a state maybe between 2,000 and 5,000 units of permanent housing in any given year. Newsom has not provided a price tag for how much CARE Court could cost, but it would likely be paid for with a portion of the projected $14 billion he wants to spend on addressing homelessness over the next several years. Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. Newsom, wrapping up his week . ChristineHironaka, 31, of San Francisco, has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. So, in the course of just a few months you had three different mayors that you served as chief of staff. Opposition mounts against Newsom's plan for court-ordered treatment of Jason Elliott with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Lt. Gov. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. The Bay Area has pulled together in a very interesting way and focused very much on prevention and stability, which is really good. We have lost people back to the streets out of Project Roomkey. The governor also has political incentives to quickly install CARE Courts. 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. 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Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this, Elliott said. Hannah Wiley is a politics reporter for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau covering the California Capitol and state agencies. So our responsibility now as a state is to continue to put fuel in the tank of this solution. At the heart of Gov. 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. But you also had to immediately get to work. 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 waslargely responsible for ballooning home prices. The program would allow family members, behavioral health providers and first responders to ask civil court judges to order a clinical evaluation and, if necessary, implement a plan for a person in need. The state hasstruggled to get tenants and landlords to enrollin existing benefits. 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. During apanel discussion hosted by Capitol Weeklyon Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsoms top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. Q: Has Project Roomkey achieved everything you hoped it would? Because for every person you bring inside, thats a person who has a sister whos worried about her. 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. What have you been trying to pass on to the people who are now going to come after you? Newsom Relents, Agrees to Release $1 Billion in Homelessness Funding But we can never let ourselves be stopped by feeling like were not making an impact. Hes the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. 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 wed really like to see communities not only continue the portfolio that they have under Project Roomkey, but potentially expand it, and expand it significantly. More by Manuela Tobias, Jason Elliott, Gov. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, runs point on homelessness for the governor. And the type of housing available is just as important as how much of it there is, said L.A. Family Housing President and CEO Stephanie Klasky-Gamer. Health | So what of the slew of housing bills at the state Capitol? 3. Health | View Jason Elliott's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. And they want more clarity around the role of the supporter, who they said would serve more as court agents than personal advocates. Capitol Weekly's Top 100: Jason Elliot - Capitol Weekly CARE Court is not the appropriate tool for providing a path to wellness for Californians living with mental health disabilities who face homelessness, incarceration, hospitalization, conservatorship, and premature death, the letter states. But the bill may face a major hurdle once its heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. In high school and for part of college, Elliott dreamed of becoming a journalist. Elliott spoke with this news organization about those programs, how they started, and where we go from here. 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. Jason Elliott, Newsoms top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal. No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. As senior counselor to Gov. Governor Newsom had previously announced Ana J. Matosantos as Cabinet Secretary, Jason Elliott as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Executive Branch Operations, and Angie Wei as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Policy Development. 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. There is a crisis on our streets.. We believe that a transformational proposal like CARE Court should be thoroughly vetted by stakeholders and informed by research and data before it is adopted. . 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. Ive been really encouraged by the warm embrace of local leaders on Homekey. 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. But the advocates are concerned about more than the courts and housing. Q: What percent of Project Roomkey clients have exited to permanent housing? And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. 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. Gavin Newsom. To move the needle, Elliott pitched the statewide Housing Accountability Unit, which Newsom proposed in his January budget. 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. 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. And if the question is has it worked, I think unequivocally the answer is yes. CalMattersis a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. Gavin Newsom helps clean a homeless encampment alongside a freeway in San Diego. He is married to Nicole Elliott, director of the state Department of Cannabis Control. DeBoo joined. Some were practical and some were impossible. Jason Elliott, Gov. Healso worked for the California Air Resources Board(CARB)onlegislation relating climate. The proposal is so new there aren't many details. Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. He highlighted $12 billion in the governors budget proposal for housing and homelessness and $1.75 billion to kick-start building on more than 6,000 of backlogged affordable housing units. Stay up to date on the news you need to know. "Sometimes people return to the streets, sometimes they return to . In LA they proposed more Homekey projects than we were able to fund. Newsom dissed local applicants for seeming too complacent about a dire California problem, while the applicants retorted that the Newsom administration sent conflicting signals and that in any case, state lawmakers had inadvertently given them a financial motive to lowball their goals. We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. And in this case, Homekey works. Elliott sidestepped another question, about whether the administration would seek to extend the statewide eviction moratorium, which is set to end June 30,as the state doubles its rent relief funds withan additional $2.6 billion from the federal government. Now, a little over a month into Mayor London Breeds term, Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. How California used COVID to create housing. Local governments face sanctions if they do not comply with program requirements. 1. 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. Steer more federal dollars into homeless response. The governor wants to work the proposal through the budget this spring so the CARE Court program is ready to go into effect when the new fiscal year starts on July 1, as opposed to implementation after the lengthier policy process. Turning money into beds takes years in my experience, Bell said, adding that there will be this gap period where the $1.5 billion has not translated into thousands of new beds.. Honestly sometimes when something is working, you dont tinker with it. Those concerns are likely to be raised as Newsom continues to conduct roundtable discussions with stakeholders throughout the state. Which is why we need the private sector to do what it does, which is to build housing.. If additional behavioral health services are required for this CARE Court-related population, then the funding attached to those services needs to be present as well, Knaus said. Logman is a Democrat. Before that, she worked for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf on her re-election campaign and managed the successful campaign of Shanell Williams forBoard of Trustees at City College of San Francisco. 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. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. 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Newsoms approval hobbled by crime fears, homelessness crisis, poll finds, De Len proposes a new city department of mental and public health, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? What was the most difficult thing about navigating that? And he warned against efforts to rush the bill through the legislative process without proper public input and scrutiny. With a budget surplus bonanza, Gov. We have 108,000 unsheltered homeless people in California. Governor helps clear San Diego homeless encampment to highlight pilot Sign up below, then look for a confirmation email in your inbox. A: Both the Bay Area and Los Angeles have stepped up in incredible ways. Support for Capitol Weekly is Provided by: Jason Elliot. Tell me about that transition and sort of what your role has been. a{ b8&F=>TVFPQn r endstream endobj 23 0 obj <>/Metadata 3 0 R/Outlines 7 0 R/Pages 20 0 R/StructTreeRoot 10 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences 41 0 R>> endobj 24 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 1441.5 891.38]/Parent 20 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 25 0 obj <>stream Thats goal number one.. Through Project Roomkey, we increased the amount of shelter available in California by 50%, effectively overnight. LZe$h#0m1Nx@,Z@XO"F"K"]w8|qWWhh\6^i . 4. We have lost people back to the streets out of Project Roomkey. Swide is a Democrat. Gov. And then the high risk factor you apply to that population. During a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly on Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsoms top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. The state must invest in permanent affordable housing options in addition to building interim units such as tiny homes and hotel rooms, she said. Today, he announced: Jamie Callahan, 33, of Sacramento,has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. The Bay Area has pulled together in a very interesting way and focused very much on prevention and stability, which is really good. We worked 25 hours a day to design what eventually become Project Roomkey. Im not going to take anybodys vote for granted, but I think with my caucus, and I think this is a bipartisan issue, everybody agrees that we need more tools in the toolbox in order to reach those who so desperately need our help.. Theyre just exhausted, Newsom said during the KQED interview. SonyaLogman, 30,of Antelope, has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. YL 8u8JpC A: I will point you to the governors budget proposal: $1.75 billion. Q: What percent of Project Roomkey clients have exited to permanent housing? Newsom campaigned on building 3.5 million homes. He hasn't gotten even Those numbers don't yet account for Los Angeles County, said Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff and top advisor on housing and homelessness. The groups often have significant sway among liberal legislative Democrats, the kind of influence that could hinder Newsoms hopes for a new law to be in place by July 1. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Gavin Newsom, Elliott serves as the governors top housing and homelessness adviser. 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. Despite new state law, Antioch ends remote option for council meetings Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. She started her journalism career reporting on crime and breaking news for The News-Press in Southwest Florida. Earlier this month, Newsom billed the CARE Court proposal a departure from the status quo of addressing homelessness, addiction and mental illness in California. 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'The country is watching': California homeless crisis looms as Gov Whoops! Gov. We started with a lot of ideas. Jason Elliott, Newsom's top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov. ', San Diego Gun Store Owner Sentenced in Firearms Sales Case Involving Ex-Deputy, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Q: Describe what it was like in the governors office when the pandemic hit and you realized we could be dealing with a potentially devastating health crisis for our homeless population? They cant take whats happening on the streets and sidewalks. Its just not something you ever want to do. 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. Secretly, he still does. Program to buy hotels for homeless people could get another influx of 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. He also emphasized that just as important as passing new legislation is implementing laws already on the books. The policy differences? Honestly sometimes when something is working, you dont tinker with it. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Have it become a fundamental part of addressing homelessness in California. Dr. Jonathan Sherin, Los Angeles Countys director of mental health, estimated that CARE Court would target 10% or less of the total homeless population. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. Governor Newsom had previously announcedAna J.Matosantosas Cabinet Secretary,Jason Elliott as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Executive Branch Operations, and Angie Wei as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Policy Development. Housing | 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. 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. 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. Sabelhaus is a Democrat. Emily Swide, 25, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of Schedulingfor the Governor. He said the governor would generally support any move to change the default to yes on more housing. Because people just want to get people inside off the streets, Klasky-Gamer said. We worked 25 hours a day to design what eventually become Project Roomkey. For all we knew, this was going to happen in a matter of weeks. NettieSabelhaus, 71, of Sacramento,has been appointedSpecial Advisor on Public Safety. Its a part of the population that has been suffering and languishing for so long, many of whom have been on the streets for literally years and years and some decades and at great peril to themselves, Sherin said. Jason Elliott Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? We expected to have hard conversations with entrenched stakeholders.. Some policy bills face a key deadline next week, but Elliott declined to comment on specific bills, including Senate Bill 9, which would allow homeowners to put a duplex on single-family lots or split them. The governors new plan to create a court-ordered treatment effort is being sharply criticized by anti-poverty groups and civil libertarians. Before that, she was a Legislative Assistant at The Crane Group and a Research Assistant for the British ParliamentaryLabourParty. Two Democrats have already introduced a bill that parallels the governors proposal. 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 Elliott sat down for an exit interview with KQED politics reporter Marisa Lagos. "Before we can reach our stretch goals, before you can reach the moon, you've got to get off the launch pad," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor on housing and homelessness. Here's what we know so far about Gov. Newsom's CARE - CapRadio Previously, Figueroa was Director of Prevention for The California Endowment, the nations largest state-specific health care foundation. 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. Elliott: I think the most challenging part was trying to take the mayors staff and key department heads and insulate them from the political turmoil that was happening inside City Hall and around the city. Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. Getting cities and counties to say yes to housing is a long battle in California. And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. Elliott, a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University, has been with Newsom for years, working for him when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco and lieutenant governor.