Newsom directs $291M to combat homelessness, touts Alameda Co. as model of success

HAYWARD, Calif. — Governor Gavin Newsom spent the day in Alameda County, hailing efforts to combat unsheltered homelessness, while announcing $291 million in funding for services and housing to city and counties across the state.

Newsom visited a housing campus that currently being used while under renovation.

The Regis Village is a treatment and care campus in Hayward.

The campus is designed to serve more than three thousand people a year with detox beds, residential treatment, medical care, and rapid housing for those in crisis.

“The goal is straight forward, people move indoors quickly, they stabilize, we connect them to long term housing and recovery pathway,” says Qimmah Hameed with the Bay Area Community Services organization.

The Bay Area Community Services organization is leading the charge to help people get to permanent housing.

The latest data shows they’re making progress in Alameda County.

“We now house more than 6,000 people in permanent supportive housing, and we saw homelessness decrease for the first time. In more than 10 years in our 2024 point in time count with a 3% reduction and 11% reduction in sheltered homelessness,” says Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Marquez.

Governor Newsom also announcing new accountability measures for the state’s CARE Court, an effort to get more chronically ill people the help they need.

“I really felt a need for this program in Alameda County. I’ve lived in Alameda County since 1977. Before most of you were born. And it’s heartbreaking to drive around the community, to go to the courthouse where I work, and see the people who are living in just horrific conditions. And this care act court really serves the most vulnerable people,” says Judge Sandra Bean.

The governor recognizing the success in Alameda County while announcing accountability measures for underperforming counties.

“I’m happy to redirect every damn penny in these programs to the counties that are getting things done, period, full stop, unless they stop doing what they’ve done. Don’t make any more excuses. If you want things improved, we’ll do it,” Newsom says.

The Governor identified 10 underperforming counties where additional support will be provided through the state’s CARE Improvement and Coordination Unit.

They include San Francisco and Santa Clara counties, which will receive targeted technical support and training for county implementers.