We hope this toolkit will assist your League in identifying high-priority homelessness endeavors specific to, and supportive of, your local communities in California. It includes resources for education, advocacy, and voter service. Thank you for caring about Californians experiencing homelessness!
California’s housing and homelessness crisis is overwhelming. The state’s severe affordable housing shortage puts low-income Californian households at high risk of housing instability and homelessness. Our situation is complex with no simple solution. Links between housing availability, affordability, and homelessness are well documented. The state has a plan, as well as a new integrated state database that will help us make a difference for those in need.
In order to meet its current housing demand, the Golden State must build 3.5 million homes before 2025. Not only does the state have an insufficient supply of housing (the key to solving homelessness), the housing that does exist is expensive and out-of-reach to people with median-and-below household incomes. Where does one live when freed from prison, suddenly without income, homeless, or dealing with serious mental illness? And how will the 2020 pandemic affect those already on the edge of homelessness?
More than a quarter of the people who are unhoused in the United States live in California, and 1,300+ of them die on our streets each year. California’s Homeless Count increases by double digits annually, with 161,548 residents living without a place to call home in 2020 -- this is after 91,626 people were housed during the year. Shelter space remains sparse, resulting in 72% of people experiencing homelessness living in the open (unsheltered). These numbers pre-date the pandemic and are certain to worsen. Educators struggle to meet the needs of homeless children and teens -- so many that they could fill Dodgers Stadium to capacity five times over (269,000 K-12 students). On top of this, cities, counties, and municipalities increasingly penalize people who are forced to live on our streets and in public spaces – no place to rest their heads, store their belongings, or take care of personal hygiene.
Let’s Get Started
Whether your League is just beginning to explore homelessness or has been actively involved with your local community for years, start here to find out more about California’s current situation.
Are you a “just the headlines” kind of person? If you only have 15 minutes, read these:
Want to get into more depth on a topic? With an hour or more, start above, then continue on:
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This 2018 Homelessness Task Force Report provides practical tools for cities and counties in California to use in addressing homelessness in their communities. It offers details on how to create a homelessness plan, identify resources and funding for homelessness, and build support in communities to address homelessness. Initial recommendations from the State Homelessness Task Force.
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“Housing Not Handcuffs” is the only national report that provides an overview of laws in effect across the country that punish homelessness. Many people experiencing homelessness have no choice but to live outside, yet cities routinely punish or harass unsheltered people for their presence in public places.
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What do people believe about homelessness? What established viewpoints do we need to counteract to reduce the animosity and embrace the homeless as our fellow man
Reference Materials
Advocacy: Make a difference
What actions can our Leagues take to effect change and improve the lives of people who are unhoused? Make sure you review our Homelessness Action Policy.
Applying an Equity Lens
Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other people of color are disproportionately represented among Californians experiencing homelessness. While 6.5 percent of Californians identify as Black or African-American, almost 40 percent of the state’s population of people who are unhoused are Black. Indigenous peoples are over six times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population. Latino Californians are least likely to access housing and services available in their communities. Addressing housing affordability and accessibility issues are key to solving the problem of inequitable access to decent housing. For more information on diversity, equity and inclusion check the League of Women Voters’ resources listed here.
Homelessness Action Policy Roadmap
What can we possibly do to affect this complex situation? These letters outline some positions your local league may want to take.
Observer Corps
This is an excellent way to learn about homelessness in your community if you’re new to the issue or just want to more fully understand the interconnections between the groups assisting people who are unhoused: it will help you become a more effective advocate. Consider observing city councils, council of governments, service provider area groups, or other appropriate meetings. You can sign up for online training from LWV San Francisco. Join the National League Observer Corps Facebook Group.
Issue Education Forums
The public is in need of general education about homelessness. Consider hosting a forum, webinar, or creating a FAQ to print and share online. Write an Op Ed. Host a book club; watch related movies. Here are some examples for you to consider.
Program Planning
There are several ways to include homelessness in your local priorities:
- Make homelessness an Education Issue for Emphasis in your local league (you do not need to have any positions to do this).
- Make homelessness an Advocacy Issue for Emphasis in your local league (you can use the state position but might want local positions to do this as well).
- Propose concurrence locally in order to adopt positions if you want additional local positions.
Using the Action Policy. While the Roadmap has some terrific ideas, here are others you might find helpful in your league area.
Advocacy Resources
Legislative Action at all Levels of Government
The LWVC Bill Status Report. Please do not take action as a League on state bills without discussing the bill with your Board, your Local Coach (LC), and a state Board Member or the LWVC staff. Check out the Speaking with One Voice: LWVC Policy Explainer for more information.
Local Action. Testifying at regional or city council meetings about proposed legislation and programs is one way to assist the homeless in your own community. All such meetings are now recorded and many are viewable live from home. Use existing positions and the Homelessness Action Policy to find a position upon which to base your comments.
Stay in Touch, Get Help
Please contact us by joining our ListServ lwvchtf [at] googlegroups.com to get informational updates; send us a direct note to Homelessness [at] lwvc.org. We are eager to help!
"Government has to recognize that it has an obligation to lift the homeless up, not to chase them around, not to incarcerate them, but to lift them up and restore them to a place of dignity that they deserve."
-Mark Ridley Thomas, 11/2020, LA City Council and Co-chair of Governor’s Council of Regional Homeless Advisors
Photo courtesy of Mark Horvath of Invisible People.
