Special Board of Supervisors Meeting Regarding Governor Newsom’s Withholding of Funds for Homelessness Programs

Shasta County, CA - The Board of Supervisors held a special meeting today in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s surprise decision on November 4, to withhold $1 billion in statewide homelessness program funding, pending that local agencies sign a guidance letter, no later than November 29, 2022, committing to more ambitious action to address homelessness.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the signing of the guidance letter by the director of Shasta County Housing and Community Action Agency (SCHCAA). The SCHCAA is the Administrative Entity for the NorCal Continuum of Care (CoC), which encompasses seven neighboring counties, increasing the impact of the BOS decision to sign far beyond Shasta County. Funding across the seven counties totals $3.9M, with $1.5 designated to Shasta County.

The Board took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of a united local effort to address homelessness. “While Shasta County has one of the lower homelessness populations in CA, we do have one of the more visible homeless communities” said Supervisor Joe Chimenti, “this is not a partisan issue, this is a human issue, and we need to work together as a community to solve it and help people in need”.

“The Governor has called for performance and efficiency to meet the homeless challenge” said Pat Minturn, Acting Shasta County Executive Officer. “We agree and look forward to working with the state to meet public goals and expectations.” 

The state’s homeless population has grown by at least 22,500 during the pandemic. Newsom said current local plans would reduce homelessness by just 2% statewide by 2024 — a figure that is “simply unacceptable.” He also criticized some regions for estimating their homeless populations would grow by double digits in four years. County representatives from across the state met with the governor in Sacramento last weekend to review the state’s approach to homelessness and identify more effective strategies.