AB 2830 was originally scheduled to be heard this week by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, but the hearing is now set for next week, similar to plans for its companion measure, Senate Bill 1338. So, Im gonna miss the troubleshooting with departments and mayor staff. But we can never let ourselves be stopped by feeling like were not making an impact. In LA they proposed more Homekey projects than we were able to fund. Gov. Prior to that, she held roles as Appointments Director for the Senate Rules Committee, Deputy Director of the Center for CaliforniaStudies at California State University, Sacramento, Director of the Senate Fellows Program, Chief of Staff to Senator Barry Keene, consultant to Assembly Majority Consultants, legislative aide to U.S. We have the wrong reflex around housing in the state. California's gas tax is 51.1 cents per gallon, the second highest in the nation. We have exploded in bringing more interim housing beds online. But its a start, and more than California has done in a long time. Lawmakers similarly expect answers to these questions before Newsom submits a formal proposal to the Legislature. Through Project Roomkey, we increased the amount of shelter available in California by 50%, effectively overnight. Its just not something you ever want to do. Yes, it has. Dr. Margot Kushel, a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco and director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, applauded the administration for promising resources, but cautioned against thinking CARE Court would be a blanket solution to the crisis. 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. But you also had to immediately get to work. 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. 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. Some policy bills face a key deadline next week, but Elliott declined to comment on specific bills, includingSenate Bill 9,which would allow homeowners to put a duplex on single-family lots or split them. With a budget surplus bonanza, Gov. But its the money needed to run CARE Court that concerns local officials. California Gov. 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. We need people to enroll. 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. Jason Elliott Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. 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? And that is great, but if you keep doing these interim housing solutions, you are not solving homelessness for them, you are hiding them.. CARE Court is meant to target the 10,000 to 12,000 people dealing with schizophrenia and psychosis who may qualify for the program, said Jason Elliott, a senior counselor to Newsom. With a key legislative deadline next week, Newsoms housing adviser speaks about the governors priorities on affordable housing. Yes, it has. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. Jason Elliott, 36, of Sacramento, is now serving as senior counselor to the Governor for housing and homelessness in the Office of the Governor, where he has served as chief deputy cabinet secretary. The governors new plan to create a court-ordered treatment effort is being sharply criticized by anti-poverty groups and civil libertarians. Those who would qualify are characterized by experts as the hardest to reach and most difficult to treat, largely because they have a variety of complex needs and are often hesitant to trust government intervention. Clear out encampments, and at the same time connect people with housing and services. 4. No, of course not. Project Roomkey was a public health emergency response to a once-in-a-century pandemic. There is a crisis on our streets.. Prior to working for Governor Brown,he served as a legislative consultant to State Senator Mark Leno, working on criminal justice issues, as well as privacy and technology. 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. 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. They cant take whats happening in encampments and tents.. potential He is married to Nicole Elliott, director of the state Department of Cannabis Control. A: I will point you to the governors budget proposal: $1.75 billion. 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. 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. So theres something about continuity that underpinned how we moved forward through those next few days. 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. 4. Within hours, Lee died -- and Elliot had to step up to help keep the city running. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $166,404. 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. Elliott acknowledged the state's behavioral health system has . Housing | Have it become a fundamental part of addressing homelessness in California. Some were practical and some were impossible. A: Both the Bay Area and Los Angeles have stepped up in incredible ways. Ive been really encouraged by the warm embrace of local leaders on Homekey. We expected to have hard conversations with entrenched stakeholders.. As health officials scrambled last March with shelter-in-place orders to slow the spread of COVID-19, Jason Elliott wastacklinganother seemingly overwhelming problem: How do we keep the more than 100,000 Californians sleeping on our streets from dying of the virus? Homekey was able to produce 6,000 units in six months, at a third of the cost, in about a fifth of the amount of time it typically takes. Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor Gavin Newsom Greater . 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 with an additional $2.6 billion from the federal government. Logman is a Democrat. The big takeaway: California is millions of. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Which is why we need the private sector to do what it does, which is to build housing.. A top Newsom adviser weighs in, Opinion: Newsoms budget cuts threaten public health investment, Oakland airport passenger traffic shows steady post-COVID rebound, China dismisses FBI statement that COVID-19 likely leaked from Wuhan lab, Despite new state law, Antioch ends remote option for council meetings, Zoom chops nearly 200 jobs in Bay Area as tech layoffs mount. We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. Updated Aug. 9, 202\2 Want to see more stories like this? Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. Hes the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. And then the high risk factor you apply to that population. As senior counselor to Gov. 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. 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. 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. He said the question of how to close the homeless spigot is motivating them to think bigger and be more aggressive. Yes, it has. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, said the governor's "hope and expectation is that this will be going out in short order." However, he added that the ball was in the court of . 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. Castillo said the anti-poverty group will remain opposed to the CARE Court framework unless lawmakers address the concerns outlined in the letter, especially the plans failure to address access to housing and its insistence on empowering judges to mandate care. State Sen. Susan Eggman, a Stockton Democrat and one of the authors of Senate Bill 1338, said she was optimistic that CARE Court would initiate greater oversight in the mental health system and help those most in need through early interventions. Jason Elliott with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Lt. Gov. Receive a free briefing on your state every day. Lets start with yes, unless theres a reason not to build.. 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. So when you do all that math, youre looking at about 25,000 homeless people losing their lives from coronavirus. Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? Related Articles We vehemently oppose the proposal because it has this coercive court process implemented, and no right to housing, Castillo said. 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. 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? 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. 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. They cant take whats happening on the streets and sidewalks. Gavin Newsom, Elliott serves as the governors top housing and homelessness adviser. We practice with legislation. Ive been really encouraged by the warm embrace of local leaders on Homekey. Earlier this month, Newsom billed the CARE Court proposal a departure from the status quo of addressing homelessness, addiction and mental illness in California. Stay up to date on the news you need to know. Sign up below, then look for a confirmation email in your inbox. 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. And that can mean big vision things, and it also means the day-to-day of running a city. We'll send you the top local news stories every morning at 8 a.m. By clicking subscribe, you agree to share your email address with Times of San Diego to receive our free newsletter and breaking news alerts. During a panel discussion hosted by Capitol Weekly on Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsom's top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. (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. No cost estimate for the plan has been released, but Newsom has pledged to spend up to $14 billion on solutions to Californias homelessness crisis over the next several years. 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. Gavin Newsom, Elliott serves as the governors top housing and homelessness adviser. 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. And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. A: Thats a great question and I wish I had a more straightforward answer for you. Through Project Roomkey, we increased the amount of shelter available in California by 50%, effectively overnight. You just let it keep rolling. Are sale-leasebacks still a viable option? With a proposed budget of $4.3 million, the unit would hold cities feet to the fire when they break existing housing law, and help them take advantage of laws already in place that streamline regulations and permits. Housing | Certainly there have been outbreaks on Skid Row, certainly there have been outbreaks in some of the homeless facilities in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. Newsom also attached accountability measures to the program, including sanctions for local governments that dont comply with program requirements and diverting people into stricter conservatorships or letting their paused criminal cases continue if they fail to meet their CARE plan obligations. Elliott sat down for an exit interview with KQED politics reporter Marisa Lagos. Housing | Jason Elliott, Gov. And its not something you ever picture doing. Daniel Seeman, 33, of Sacramento,has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. We have 108,000 unsheltered homeless people in California. 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? She started her journalism career reporting on crime and breaking news for The News-Press in Southwest Florida. We start with no. From 2006 to 2010, she served four administrations in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. %PDF-1.7 % Graham Knaus, executive director of the California State Assn. To move the needle, Elliott pitched the statewide Housing Accountability Unit, which Newsom proposed in his January budget. Are we doing much better than previous models? His biggest challenges as we go to press are housing, homelessness and mental health care, issues that have dominated the states discussions this year, so he has his work cut out for him. Timing is also a key decision for Newsom. Newsom, wrapping up his week . This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. Health | "Local government has a responsibility to put their hands up and be part of the solution," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor on housing and homelessness. As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution With the generous support of readers like you, Times of San Diego publishes timely and accurate news coverage for a better-informed community. Jason Elliott, Newsom's adviser on homeless issues, said the partnership between the city of San Diego, Caltrans and City Net is one that could be a model throughout the state. Erin Mellon, Newsom's communications director, confirmed the moves to The Sacramento Bee. Has it protected 35,000 homeless Californians? We started with a lot of ideas. Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. ChristineHironaka, 31, of San Francisco, has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. She previously covered startups and venture capital for the Bay Area News Group and prior to that court cases for The Recorder in San Francisco. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. A: Thats a great question and I wish I had a more straightforward answer for you. "x|.gpr9w5+9VD34[1d3 k=D.$Y+P&@H)1IPv&cN}`r=(s6hYp4r>]dV>:pvV5R"F-"0%4X=?>RYQ;:h]"{A'`MW;J Housing policy advocates described Newsom's stated goal of 3.5 million new homes in four years the same way he has: aspirational. And he was a friend and a mentor, so it must have been an incredibly difficult thing emotionally. I think its going to disproportionately impact low-income communities, Black and brown communities, so making sure people use the benefit I think is key.. Steer more federal dollars into homeless response. In high school and for part of college, Elliott dreamed of becoming a journalist. With this $1.75 billion (the governor proposed spending $1.75 billion on homeless housing, including $750 million to continue Homekey) we want to create this momentum behind Homekey and not have it be a one-time thing. Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. I think its going to disproportionately impact low-income communities, Black and brown communities, so making sure people use the benefit I think is key.. If they start listening to us and really take coercive approaches and court-ordered approaches off the table, I think theres more hope that we can work with them on something that we can all support, Imparato said. He served in several previous administrations, including as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Deputy Legislative Secretary for Governor Gray Davis. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. 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. Elliott spoke with this news organization about those programs, how they started, and where we go from here. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. . Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, runs point on homelessness for the governor. Protect your nonprofit, nonpartisan state news. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this, Elliott said. contributed to the housing crisis in California and its The panels chairman, Assembly Member Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley), said in a statement that he shared many of the concerns raised by the opponents about the CARE Court bills.. Whoops! Has the federal government embraced it and now is providing 100% reimbursement on the costs? Californias governor is fast-tracking a plan to compel people into court-ordered treatment, but a lot of details are still in question. His grandfather was in the State Department. 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.