Contributing: If the state funding is lost, California’s household crisis erupts

As two former members of California legislature, we understand complex and hard fiscal choices with a tight budget control. Like the mayors of both of California’s largest towns, and we also know the harmful consequences of killing crisis – a crisis driven by decades of decades in advance.

Homelessness is the most inspiring issue facing communities and California, and the state invested in the state, known as a home program, has many effects on our streets in our streets.

So we are concerned that the state’s proposed budget does not include another phase of funds for the program. Hhap Grants – that’s for the largest California towns, with the largest population population, powered by millions of dollars – it’s important to get Californians to reduce Californians. Simply saying, if it does not provide this problem with the state’s home is balloon.

Thanks to Hhap, our two cities have found a significant reduction in homelessness. In January, the point at San Diego point Displays a 14% drop compared to 2024. Sacramento, where the most recent number last year, A 29% drop achieved Over two years. The previous phases of Hhap funds allow us to develop innovation, local local solutions, resulting in the true development of thousands of weak residents. Since Hhap starts in 2019, 13 largest California towns The state fund is used To create 17,691 shelter beds, connect more than 152,000 people to live, build 2,295 permanent units at home and put in temporary or permanent housing solutions.

In Sacramento, Hhap resources support more than 1,300 units of emergency shelter and hundreds of permanent home unit support. The San Diego has doubled the city shelter capacity, expanded outreach teams on Street and included new parking interventions for people living in their cars.

We understand that responding to homelessness is expensive, and yet leave people on the streets is especially expensive. Our police officers and firefighters find themselves in front line of crisis, and drive costs for taxpayers. Businesses and schools are left to get the tab too.

We know the importance of accountability. Our backgrounds like former lawmakers teach us the value of fiscal responsibility, transparency and display results in public dollars. The big cities in California are delivered to ensure hhap funds spent wise and effective. The major town mayors are tracked and reported how Hhap dollars are used, and we accept additional handling to ensure every dollar achieving the highest impact.

Data has been confirmed that previous state investments make a real difference. But the scale of the crisis begs to continue investment. We are in a critical juncture. While Trump Administration Retreats from its responsibilities of homelessness, more important than California to lead.

The cost of taking the person is very large. Every day, we see the faces of the wresters – Veterans, families, children and people with disabilities. And every day, we see what can be if someone is moved from the sidewalk to the shelter and after a house.

We encourage the legislature to meet this opportunity by full funding Hhap for $ 1 billion a general state fund to more than $ 225 billion work with, that can be.

The challenge of homelessness is unreliable – but we cannot come back. In support, our cities can continue their homeless work in the golden state of exceptional, short and non-return.

Todd Gloria is the Mayor of San Diego and Kevin McCarty the Mayor of Sacramento. Both members of the California Legislature members, and members of the 13-City California Group Great Mayors in California.