Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today applauded California Governor Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget that included $1 billion to combat homelessness.

            “Homelessness has reached crisis levels in California, both in major cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, as well as in rural areas such as Butte, San Benito, and Shasta counties,” said Senator Feinstein. “[N]early 25 percent of the nation’s homeless population is in California, with more than 129,000 homeless people sleeping on our streets on any given night.”

            “I look forward to working with you to ensure that California has the resources necessary to fight this growing epidemic. Thank you for all that you are doing to fight homelessness in California.”

            Full text of the letter follows:

May 16, 2019

The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Newsom:

            I was thrilled to learn that your revised state budget proposal now includes $1 billion to combat homelessness, and I would like to offer any assistance I can to help support your efforts.

            As you know, homelessness has reached crisis levels in California, both in major cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, as well as in rural areas such as Butte, San Benito, and Shasta counties. According to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, nearly 25 percent of the nation’s homeless population is in California, with more than 129,000 homeless people sleeping on our streets on any given night.

            We can, and must, do better. I truly believe that city, county, state, and federal governments must work hand in hand with public and private entities to devote more resources and establish public-private partnerships to begin significantly addressing the issue of homelessness.

            I look forward to working with you to ensure that California has the resources necessary to fight this growing epidemic. Thank you for all that you are doing to fight homelessness in California, and please let me know if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator