The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, is advocating for a proposition in the upcoming election to address the state’s homelessness issue. However, social service providers believe that this initiative could jeopardize programs that prevent individuals from experiencing homelessness.

In 2004, a law was passed by voters to levy a tax on individuals with high incomes in order to fund mental health services. This has resulted in an annual revenue of $2 billion to $3 billion, which is primarily allocated to counties for the purpose of implementing mental health programs according to general guidelines.

Newsom is seeking to increase the state’s authority in determining how the funds are allocated. The upcoming March 5 ballot will include Proposition 1, which mandates that 60% of the funds must be dedicated to housing and programs specifically for homeless individuals with severe mental health issues or substance abuse struggles.

The formula would mandate that rural counties like Butte, which has less than 1,300 homeless individuals, allocate the same proportion of funds towards housing as urban counties like San Francisco, which has a homeless population six times larger. Mayor London Breed of San Francisco has voiced her support for the measure, while officials in Butte County have raised concerns.

The majority of the funding generated by the millionaire tax in Butte County has been allocated towards prevention services aimed at addressing the high rates of suicide and childhood trauma. According to officials, about 28% of the current funding would need to be redirected from existing programs to support housing initiatives. This shift may result in a loss of funding for cultural centers, peer-support programs, vocational services, and programs working with the homeless population.

Tiffany McCarter became emotional while discussing the potential closure of the African American Family & Cultural Center, which she manages in the rural city of Oroville in Butte County. The center, which has been operating for 14 years with the goal of addressing the cycle of trauma in the Black community, heavily depends on mental health funding from the county.

The facility provides a variety of activities such as after-school programs, art and dance classes, and anger management sessions, all aimed at guiding youth away from the dangers of the streets. McCarter explained that some participants may struggle with learning difficulties or have parents who are in prison.

“I have a strong desire to address the issue of homelessness,” stated McCarter, the executive director of the center, as she laughed along with the children running around her, vying for her attention. “But then, which of my children would we have to leave behind?”

Homelessness has become a major problem in California, causing disruption to businesses and communities with makeshift tents lining the streets. This issue has proven to be a source of frustration and could potentially hinder a national campaign for Governor Newsom. In support of tackling this issue, the Democratic governor has raised $10 million for a ballot measure and has even appeared in TV ads promoting it, highlighting its importance as a top political priority for him.

He has advocated for legislation that simplifies the process of compelling individuals with mental health concerns to seek treatment, and he promotes this proposal as the last component of the revised strategy.

At the launch event for the proposition, Newsom stated that we have a special opportunity to turn our promises into tangible actions and tackle the most pressing issue in our state that causes the most stress and frustration.

The individual who wrote the 2004 tax for millionaires, Mayor Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento, stated that the money is intended to aid homeless individuals who have severe mental illnesses. He also believes that county officials and providers are not understanding the overall goal.

According to Steinberg, although it has supported beneficial programs for two decades, it has strayed from its initial intention. The most crucial focus should be on reducing the unacceptable anguish of individuals who are homeless and passing away on our streets.

The proposed legislation would allow the state to take out a loan of $6.38 billion in order to construct 4,350 housing units, with 50% of them designated for veterans. Additionally, it would increase the number of mental health and addiction treatment beds by 6,800.

The administration of Newsom has used a minimum of $22 billion on different initiatives to tackle the crisis, such as allocating $3.5 billion towards converting dilapidated motels into housing for the homeless. Additionally, California is providing $2 billion in grants to construct additional treatment facilities.

However, according to numerous individuals, the crisis has worsened significantly.

In the United States, approximately one-third of the homeless population resides in the state of California. This translates to roughly 181,000 individuals who require housing. According to a recent survey conducted by the University of California San Francisco’s Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, two-thirds of homeless individuals in California suffer from a mental health disorder. However, only 18% of them have received treatment in the recent past and a mere 6% have received any form of addiction treatment, despite widespread substance abuse.

According to experts who testified before state legislators last year, there is a need for approximately 8,000 additional beds to address mental health and addiction concerns within the state.

The governor stated that California currently has 5,500 beds, a significant decrease from the 37,000 beds it had over fifty years ago.

The suggestion may also include the inclusion of beds in secured psychiatric facilities, which proponents argue could potentially result in more individuals being subjected to involuntary treatment. Newsom and state legislators have yet to determine the specific type of facility that would be constructed.

Mark Salazar, the executive director of Mental Health Association of San Francisco, which aids over 15,000 individuals each month, strongly disagrees with Proposition 1 on humanitarian and civil rights grounds. He argues that forcing treatment has consistently proven to be detrimental for the person involved, as supported by various studies.

According to Mark Cloutier, the CEO of Caminar, a organization that offers mental health support, job placement, and housing assistance primarily to young adults, the proposed measure is necessary due to the shortage of housing and treatment options. This shortage often results in individuals being incarcerated or seeking help in emergency rooms.

According to Joe Wilson, the director of Hospitality House in San Francisco, there is a need for additional housing and beds. However, this should not come at the cost of other programs, such as the organization’s two drop-in centers in the Tenderloin neighborhood and Sixth Street Corridor. The staff at these centers, many of whom have experienced homelessness themselves, assist individuals in accessing services, updating their resumes, and providing transportation to appointments.

He stated that there is a consensus on the need for additional resources for housing, but questions whether this is the optimal approach. We do not concur with this method.

Anthony Hardnett, a San Francisco native who had been homeless and struggled with addiction, is one of the workers at the center. He shared that many individuals he has assisted have found independence and productivity by acquiring new skills and interests, such as through his chess club. Last month, the group successfully connected over 30 people with job opportunities.

According to Hardnett, we need to demonstrate something new in order to shift their perspective. We cannot simply abandon them.

In Chico, a city in Butte County located approximately 165 miles (265 kilometers) north of San Francisco, service providers express concern for the city’s sole drop-in center for troubled youth. The 6th Street Center for Youth also provides rental aid to college students, but staff members fear that this may not be enough to prevent budget cuts.

Solace Kalkowski, who identifies as non-binary and prefers the pronouns they/them, recently found themselves living in their truck following a breakup a couple of weeks ago. They credit the center for preventing them from becoming chronically homeless.

Kalkowski expressed that this is a beneficial space for her to receive attentive and helpful feedback. She shared that she has been focusing on self-improvement and increasing her productivity. She is grateful for the opportunity and feels amazed by it.