Despite the urgency, the number of people who would likely benefit from the initiative is limited. Its a new day, new paradigm, and we are looking forward to getting something big done.. Los Angeles, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. Callahan previously served as Director of External and International Affairs in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2015 to January 2019, where she was Special Advisor to the Executive Secretary from 2013 to 2015. Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. Elliott spoke with this news organization about those programs, how they started, and where we go from here. And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. As a result, the state has announced it will simplify the process to get more money out the door faster. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. Jason Elliott, Newsoms top housing advisor, said it is up to the legislative leaders to determine the mechanism for implementation, but requested urgency to codify the law by July 1. How California used COVID to create housing - The Mercury News We have 108,000 unsheltered homeless people in California. Newsom's top housing adviser says 'start with yes' - Daily News Health | 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. We couldnt control the outcome of the mayoral election, and my advice to staff and department heads was: Dont try to do that. Were heading down the same path here, Elliott said. Its not enough to put a noticeable dent in the massive crisis of human suffering on our streets. He said the governor would generally support any move to change the default to yes on more housing. Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month A governors signature does not build new units, he said. 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Many affordable housing developers argue there just isnt the available workforce so that mandate would only increase the cost of construction. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this. Prior to joining CalEPA, Christine served as Assistant Director for Policy Development at the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), where she previously served as Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs. Project Roomkey has sheltered more than 35,000 homeless Californians in hotels and motels throughout the state, giving people over 65 or with medical conditions a safer place to ride out the pandemic. 'The country is watching': California homeless crisis looms as Gov Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor, will move into the deputy chief of staff role. 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? Housing policy advocates described Newsom's stated goal of 3.5 million new homes in four years the same way he has: aspirational. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Gavin Newsom. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $130,008. We dont have a concrete number, but you could assume we produce as a state maybe between 2,000 and 5,000 units of permanent housing in any given year. Elliott said he was watching with glee the Biden administrations $5 billion proposal as part of his infrastructure plan to encourage local governments to end exclusionary zoning and other practices. Newsom's top housing adviser says 'start with yes' View Jason Elliott's business profile as Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom. 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? His sister is deputy chief of staff for the mayor of New Orleans and his cousin, who he grew up with, was chief of staff for the mayor of Portland. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. He is married to Nicole Elliott, director of the state Department of Cannabis Control. 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. 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? Marisa Kendall is a housing reporter for the Bay Area News Group who covers homelessness for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. Six weeks after Gov. Within hours, Lee died -- and Elliot had to step up to help keep the city running. Elliott acknowledged the state's behavioral health system has . 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. ', San Diego Gun Store Owner Sentenced in Firearms Sales Case Involving Ex-Deputy, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Secretly, he still does. Jason Elliott is a Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom based in Washington, D.C., District of Columbia. The CARE Court proposal promises behavioral health treatment, medication and a housing plan as tools to stabilize participants who struggle with addiction and untreated psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, for up to two years. Titles are always hard to figure out in the Newsom administration, and nowhere is that truer than with Jason Elliott, a senior counselor to the governor. I have sympathy for local leaders in Los Angeles and I have sympathy for the residents of Los Angeles because even sheltering as many people as they did through Project Roomkey, and providing as many new units as they did through Homekey, the order of magnitude of the challenge is so large in LA that it almost feels like you can never make progress. How California used COVID-19 to create housing; a top Newsom adviser Yes, it has. DeBoo joined. Project Roomkey has sheltered more than 35,000 homeless Californians in hotels and motels throughout the state, giving people over 65 or with medical conditions a safer place to ride out the pandemic. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. Its just not something you ever want to do. The program would be voluntary and include assistance from both a public defender and a so-called supporter, a person who would serve as a personal guide through the recovery process. "Before we can reach our stretch goals, before you can reach the moon, you've got to get off the launch pad," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor on housing and homelessness. 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. He also pledged swift action in the coming weeks to finalize the proposal and move it through the Legislature. Returning money to California taxpayers may aid state budget We worked 25 hours a day to design what eventually become Project Roomkey. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters By CALmatters | And that was not its intention. In response, Jason Elliott, Newsom's top advisor on homelessness, said "every effort would be made to get them indoors." . Graham Knaus, executive director of the California State Assn. Gavin Newsom Age: 37 Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto Current home: Sacramento Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old. As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution "x|.gpr9w5+9VD34[1d3 k=D.$Y+P&@H)1IPv&cN}`r=(s6hYp4r>]dV>:pvV5R"F-"0%4X=?>RYQ;:h]"{A'`MW;J . NettieSabelhaus, 71, of Sacramento,has been appointedSpecial Advisor on Public Safety. 'Gimme Shelter': A conversation with Gov. Newsom's housing advisor This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000. 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. Gavin Newsoms gubernatorial campaign. Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. 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. Housing | SACRAMENTO Newly sworn-in Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the addition ofseveral highly-accomplished public servants toExecutive Branch Operationswithin the Governors Office. LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday What could reparations mean for Black residents of Alameda County? As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution . Gavin Newsom. Lets start with yes, unless theres a reason not to build.. And that was not its intention. Gavin Newsom, Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto, Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old daughter, Prior job: Chief of staff to San Francisco Mayors Ed Lee and London Breed, and policy director for Newsom when he was mayor. And that is great, but if you keep doing these interim housing solutions, you are not solving homelessness for them, you are hiding them.. Newsom sends trailers to help house the homeless in California - Los Newsom has proposed pausing that increase for one year, a move that would save drivers about $1.30 per month, according to Transportation California, a nonpartisan business and labor coalition. Stay up to date on the news you need to know. Newsom included $3 billion in the budget last year to increase behavioral health housing by 22,000 treatment beds, and proposed another $1.5 billion this year to bump that number up to 33,000. Has it helped us flatten the curve more broadly in California and protect our hospitals from overcrowding? Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. Swide is a Democrat. Erin Mellon, Newsom's communications director, confirmed the moves to The Sacramento Bee. LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases, How California used COVID-19 to create housing;, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), How California used COVID-19 to create housing; a top Newsom adviser weighs in, Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month, LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday, As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution, UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms, LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases. One example: a 2013 law designed to increase infill development in green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. %PDF-1.7 % So what of the slew of housing bills at the state Capitol? We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. Elliott said that the governor remains committed to the principles of housing first and that CARE Court would be one of many ways a person could access shelter. SonyaLogman, 30,of Antelope, has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. 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. As senior counselor to Gov. 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. Hannah Wiley is a politics reporter for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau covering the California Capitol and state agencies. We start with no. "We knew that a proposal this consequential, a proposal that aims to change the status quo so deeply, wasn't going to be received unanimously, wasn't going to be received with everyone clapping and cheering . That's how many homes the Legislature has mandated California cities to plan for by 2030, and Newsom's team is making sure they do. Elliott, a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University, has been with Newsom for years, working for him when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco and lieutenant governor. Instead, California should invest in evidence-based practices that are proven to work and that will actually empower people living with mental health disabilities on their paths to recovery and allow them to retain full autonomy over their lives without the intrusion of a court.. We worked 25 hours a day to design what eventually become Project Roomkey. We have the wrong reflex around housing in the state. "Sometimes people return to the streets, sometimes they return to . 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. Please reload the page and try again. 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. 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. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. 1. She graduated from American University with a BA degree in literature with a minor in journalism. Updated Aug. 9, 202\2 Want to see more stories like this? You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. And its not something you ever picture doing. Health | Has the federal government embraced it and now is providing 100% reimbursement on the costs? Before that, she worked for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf on her re-election campaign and managed the successful campaign of Shanell Williams forBoard of Trustees at City College of San Francisco. Elliott, a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University, has been with Newsom for years, working for him when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco and lieutenant governor. Health | During apanel discussion hosted by Capitol Weeklyon Wednesday, Jason Elliott, Newsoms top advisor on housing and homelessness, provided a glimpse. 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. Through Project Roomkey, we increased the amount of shelter available in California by 50%, effectively overnight. No, we shouldnt build there, Elliott said. Senator Alan Cranston, research assistant for the International Union of Radio, Electric and Machine Operators, AFL-CIO, and research aide to the National Sharecroppers Fund. Callahan is a Democrat. Please contact CalMatters with any commentary questions: commentary@calmatters.org. "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. Voters have given Newsom poor reviews on efforts to stem the homelessness crisis, which is sure to come up in his opponents campaigns to block his reelection later this year. g 8 endstream endobj startxref 0 %%EOF 55 0 obj <>stream The big takeaway: California is millions of. Stay in touch. Turning money into beds takes years in my experience, Bell said, adding that there will be this gap period where the $1.5 billion has not translated into thousands of new beds.. It's scheduled to increase slightly for inflation on July 1. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. Because people just want to get people inside off the streets, Klasky-Gamer said. The program would allow family members, behavioral health providers and first responders to ask civil court judges to order a clinical evaluation and, if necessary, implement a plan for a person in need. Sending Gas Money to California Taxpayers May Aid State Budget Elliott hopes the Legislature will make $250 million of the $750 million available before Newsom's budget, which will be debated by the Legislature before it is implemented, goes into effect in . Has it protected 35,000 homeless Californians? Jason Elliott, Newsom's top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal. Lagos: So you spent the last couple months helping London Breeds administration get settled. Yes, it has. The governors new plan to create a court-ordered treatment effort is being sharply criticized by anti-poverty groups and civil libertarians. And that can mean big vision things, and it also means the day-to-day of running a city. Three S.F. Mayors in Less Than 3 Months: Jason Elliott's Exit - KQED A central component of CARE Court is accountability, which Newsom said will drive results. UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms Opposition mounts against Newsom's plan for court-ordered treatment of And at that point, we were modeling a 56% attack rate for the virus, meaning that we expected 56% of Californians would get coronavirus at some point during the outbreak. He comes from a family committed to public service. That was the challenge we were facing. Mayoral candidate and Councilman Kevin de Len wants the city to withdraw from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Earlier this month, Newsom billed the CARE Court proposal a departure from the status quo of addressing homelessness, addiction and mental illness in California. The state hasstruggled to get tenants and landlords to enrollin existing benefits. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. A moratorium until the end of time that doesnt provide a sufficient benefit to get people to enroll, Elliott said, trailing off. Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. I will be reviewing the legislation very closely and recommending any amendments necessary to ensure that CARE Courts can truly help those most in need, while not unduly limiting their constitutionally guaranteed rights, he wrote. Emily Swide, 25, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of Schedulingfor the Governor. Its not really realistic to assume were going to subsidize our way out of this, Elliott said. Seeman is a Democrat. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov. State Sen. Susan Eggman, a Stockton Democrat and one of the authors of SB 1338, said she would modify the bill to address certain concerns before then, but on some issues, were just going to have to agree to disagree., It is a work in progress, she said. Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? Now, a little over a month into Mayor London Breeds term, Elliott is leaving City Hall to work for Lt. Gov. As soon as applicants sign a pledge to submit more ambitious targets and try harder in their plans for the next $1 billion grant the final round of flexible local homelessness funding approved in the 2021 budget the state will start cutting checks for this round, according to Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff. Jason Elliott with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Lt. Gov. 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. The answer is yes. But the bottom line is that he tackles difficult issues and advises the governor on how to respond, and his portfolio is expanding exponentially. He comes from a family committed to public service. 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. Newsom touts response to homelessness in State of the State - CapRadio Housing | Yes, it has. A: Both the Bay Area and Los Angeles have stepped up in incredible ways. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Gov. Newson's Top Housing Advisor Says California Should 'Start with A: I remember it was a Sunday afternoon and I was walking my dog and I got a call from our then chief of staff Ann OLeary and she said I need you at (the Office of Emergency Services) right now. UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms Getting cities and counties to say yes to housing is a long battle in California. 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. He hasnt had a day off in months. But getting a good read on his thinking can be difficult. She started her journalism career reporting on crime and breaking news for The News-Press in Southwest Florida. In response, Fowler agreed that California, like the rest of the country, faces a severe shortage of labor, union or otherwise. But with so many other cost drivers such as skyrocketing lumber prices wages arent the problem. 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. S.F.'s Toiletgate: Newsom calls $1.7 million bathroom a waste, halts Elliott sat down for an exit interview with KQED politics reporter Marisa Lagos. (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. We are not batting 1,000. 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. The governor also has political incentives to quickly install CARE Courts. Jason Elliott: So for me, nobody takes a job of chief of staff thinking youre going to be the one who has to call the president of the Board of Supervisors at 1 in the morning. A lot of smaller cities are not just making this San Francisco and Oaklands problem. Manuela is the housing reporter for CalMatters. Over the coming months, he would advise two different mayors as the city went through a truncated and highly contentious special election to replace Lee. The proposal is so new there aren't many details. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, Newsoms new push for homeless mental health treatment lacks details. Protect your nonprofit, nonpartisan state news. Katie Talbot, spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), said the idea would need to go through the policy committee process.. With a key legislative deadline next week, Newsoms housing adviser speaks about the governors priorities on affordable housing. Its a part of the population that has been suffering and languishing for so long, many of whom have been on the streets for literally years and years and some decades and at great peril to themselves, Sherin said. Governor Newsom had previously announced Ana J. Matosantos as Cabinet Secretary, Jason Elliott as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Executive Branch Operations, and Angie Wei as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Policy Development. As a result, the state has announced it will simplify the process toget more money out the door faster. Gov. Yes, it has. Housing | To move the needle, Elliott pitched the statewide Housing Accountability Unit, which Newsomproposed in his January budget. Has it become a model for the rest of the country? Are we doing much better than previous models? Gov. So when you do all that math, youre looking at about 25,000 homeless people losing their lives from coronavirus. Yes, it has. One example: a 2013 law designed toincrease infill developmentin green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. Jason Elliott Senior Counselor & Director of Intergovernmental Affairs EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Sepi Esfahlani Assistant Director, External Affairs Elmy Bermejo . Hebegan his careerat the State Capitolas a legislativeaide to State Senator FranPavley. Newsom's latest housing fix: More Californians living downtown