Board of Supervisors vote to join collaborative AT HOME homelessness proposal

The plan is a new response to homelessness that involves all levels of government

Today, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to join an effort by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) to advocate for statewide legislation to coordinate efforts to address homelessness across all jurisdictions.

Homelessness continues to be a humanitarian crisis affecting every city, unincorporated area and county in the state. No one level of government is solely responsible for responding to the homelessness crisis. While significant investments have been made by the state and local governments, responses are uncoordinated from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Each level of government has different resources and commits those resources differently.

Some of the actions outlined in the proposal include defining city and county roles for finding shelter locations and supportive housing units; integrate data systems to increase data-driven decision making and build housing solutions across the range of housing needs.

“California is in need of a comprehensive plan to address homelessness effectively and equitably,” said Supervisor Chuck Washington, Third District Supervisor and President of CSAC. “While the state and federal government provides some funding for separate efforts, everything created from that funding has been a patchwork of programs and responses that often don’t work together. There doesn’t exist a single plan to address all efforts in a unified way. This proposal seeks to change those disparate efforts and create a robust system of response and support.”

CSAC’s comprehensive program advocates for statewide legislation and advocacy focused on accountability, transparency, housing, outreach, mitigation and economic opportunity.

The proposal also calls for recruiting an outreach workforce, providing funds for safety net programs, and updating local workforce development boards to address employment for unhoused populations.

During last year’s Point in Time homeless count, approximately 3,300 individuals were counted. This year’s Point In Time count was held in January. The results are expected in May.

Read more about the six pillars of the ‘AT HOME’ Plan.