Considerations for Governor’s Proposals to Address Homelessness
In January, Governor Newsom released his proposed budget summary. The entire budget is just over $209 billion with approximately $2.375 billion designated for housing and homelessness initiatives.
Congressional Hearing on Administration’s Family Separation Policy”
To read or download the January 2019 SCG Public Policy Update, click on the link below.
In 2017-8 California State Legislative Session, SCG developed an analysis on the background and implications of Senate Bill (SB) 10 (Hertzberg), which proposed to restrict the practice of setting “monetary bail” by establishing a risk assessment tool conducted by judges. Monetary bail is a sum of money that an accused person awaiting trial can deposit to receive a temporary release from jail. The deposit conceptually acts as an incentive for accused persons to return to court. SB 10 proposed an alternative to monetary bail system with a statewide “risk assessment tool”. The tool determines whether defendants can be safely released from jail while awaiting trial. SB 10 proposed this change because the bail system unfairly affects individuals who cannot afford to pay for bail.
On December 9, Philanthropy California submitted public comment to oppose the proposed changes to "public charge." The proposed DHS rule would expand the government's ability to deny immigrants permanent residency or visas if a person benefits from aid programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and housing assistance programs. As written, these proposed changes inflict significant harms on children and families, depart from longstanding immigration practice related to public charge, and place a new, extraordinary burden on the charitable sector.
From CalNonprofits
On September 22, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a proposed rule to revise the criteria for “public charge.” Public charge refers to guidelines employed by immigration officers to determine if an immigrant is likely to become “primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.”
Two ballot measures appearing on the November 6 ballot directly relate to the work of SCG members in the area of housing. Proposition 1, Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018, would generate $4 billion in bonds for housing and homeownership programs. Proposition 2, No Place Like Home, would clarify that a limited amount of revenue generated from Mental Health Services Act (2004) can be used for housing individuals with mental health needs.
The Census Bureau faces various challenges to an unconventional census which includes a new online response option and the pending inclusion of the citizenship question. These challenges increase the potential of undercounting historically underrepresented groups referred to as “Hard-to-Count” (HTC) communities. These groups are at higher risk of not being fully counted in the 2020 Census which can lead to unequal access to vital public and private resources.