Governor Signs Senator Rubio Bill to Help Ease San Gabriel Valley Homelessness

October 10, 2019

SACRAMENTO, CA – Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) announced today that her legislation, which establishes a regional housing trust to help address the growing homelessness crisis in the San Gabriel Valley, was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.  

Senate Bill 751 authorizes the creation of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, a joint powers authority, and allows communities within the jurisdiction of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to fund housing to assist the homeless and persons of extremely low, very low, and low income. It also allows the trust to receive public and private financing and funds for this purpose.

“There is a need for this regional housing trust for the San Gabriel Valley because of the growth of the homeless population in our region,” Sen Rubio said. “Along with the $5.6 million from the state that I was able to secure, we are supporting and empowering our local service providers to address this crisis in the way that best fits our regional needs.”

“The legislation by Senator Rubio is a game changer in combating homelessness in the San Gabriel Valley,” said Cynthia Sternquist, president of the (SGVCOG) and a councilwoman for the city of Temple City. “The trust will allow cities to compete regionally for grants that they would not normally be able to as individual municipalities. Instead of a piecemeal approach, they can come together and work toward solutions for the San Gabriel Valley.  We thank the Senator for making this happen and for the funding she secured to help alleviate this crisis.”

According to data released by the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority in June 2019, the overall population in Los Angeles County grew by 12% in 2018. However, the San Gabriel Valley saw its unsheltered homeless population increase 24%.

This dramatic increase comes after the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority’s 2018 point-in-time count for the San Gabriel Valley found that the number of unsheltered persons grew to 2,790 people—a 19% increase from the 2017 point-in-time count. This is in addition to a 29% increase in the number of unsheltered persons in the San Gabriel Valley between 2016 and 2017.

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