Rubio Bill Increases Support of Domestic Violence Survivors & Unaccompanied Women Experiencing Homelessness

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) today introduced a bill requiring California’s state and local homelessness plans to address how they will help domestic violence survivors and unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness.

Senate Bill 914 would improve California’s response to homelessness by requiring cities, counties, and continuums of care that receive state funding to address homelessness to include domestic violence survivors and unaccompanied women within the vulnerable populations for whom specific system supports are developed. The bill also requires the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to set and measure progress towards goals to prevent and end homelessness for these vulnerable populations.

“Domestic violence is one of the leading drivers of homelessness for women, and unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness wait on average more than 10 years to access stable housing, a rate twice that of men,” said Sen. Rubio. “Despite making up a significant portion of the homeless population, our state’s homelessness response does not appropriately consider the needs of these groups. I want to thank the bill’s coauthors Assemblymembers Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Lisa Calderon, Cristina Garcia, and Blanca Rubio for joining me. They know that this bill will ensure these vulnerable populations are not forgotten in our efforts to end homelessness.”

“It is critical that California’s state and local approaches to addressing homelessness incorporate a gendered and intersectional analysis,” said Krista Colón, Public Policy Director for the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence. “This bill will create the foundation for more responsive and inclusive homelessness systems for millions of survivors and their families.”

“The Downtown Women’s Center is deeply grateful for the continued and unwavering support of Senator Rubio,” said Amy Turk, C.E.O. of the Downtown Women’s Center. “Senator Rubio is leading the fight in Sacramento to advance a greater equity lens in the state’s homeless response system.”

“Rainbow Services is proud to co-sponsor this bill by Senator Rubio, acknowledging domestic violence as a main driver of homelessness for women and gender-expansive individuals,” said Elizabeth Eastlund, Executive Director of Rainbow Services. “We are excited that this bill will begin to address the unique needs of domestic violence survivors and unaccompanied women ensuring existing systems collaborate to support these populations.”

Senator Susan Rubio represents Senate District 22. For more information, visit https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/

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Media Contact: Edward Barrera, edward.barrera@sen.ca.gov