August 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment Finds it Will Cost $303 Billion to End Homelessness in the State

112,527 affordable apartments needed, reports finds

By Dolores Quintana

The California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment has found that it would cost the state of California an average of $8.1 billion a year each year for 12 years to put an end to homelessness at the current level of need. This is a calculation made without factoring in any assistance from the federal government. The estimate is 2.7% of the current state budget or an additional $6.9 billion after the already budgeted $1.2 billion out of the current California budget of $303 billion.  

The breakdown of the cost is as follows. The study proposes building 112,527 affordable apartments at a cost of $5.7 billion per year for 12 years, to subsidize operations and rents for 225,053 apartments at a cost of $1.8 billion a year for 12 years. In addition, the plan calls for the state to provide supportive housing services for 62,966 California residents with disabilities at a cost of $488 million a year for 12 years and fund interim interventions for 32,235 individuals and families at a cost of $630.4 million total for 12 years for a total of $80.1 billion. After that, all that would be needed is $4.7 billion a year for maintenance. 

Debbie Thiele, regional managing director for the Corporation for Supportive Housing said, as reported by Bloomberg.com, “California has invested record amounts of funding toward homelessness in recent years, which has resulted in more people accessing shelters and decreases in the proportion of unsheltered people. But only homes end homelessness. And the state has never developed a comprehensive plan for its investments and housing for people who are without homes.”

While this might seem like a lot of money, the continued cost to the state in money and the toll of lost human life is far more costly. Many people point the finger at mental illness and drug use as the reason why people are on the streets, but the costs of housing are skyrocketing in big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco every year, so it’s not something that can just be blamed on the unhoused as some kind of character flaw. Without taking steps to end homelessness, the problem won’t go away and could only grow over time as the cost of living, and rents rise without being checked and jobs with the salaries to pay for housing and other needs aren’t there. 

California, as a state, has the economy of an independent nation. The state is currently the fifth-largest economy in the world and is on the cusp of being able to overtake Germany as the fourth-largest economy in the world. The truth of the matter is that while many mock the state as a place that is falling apart, the reality is that California’s economy is stronger than a lot of other countries in the world, much less than other states in the union. The proposed cost of ending homelessness is only 3% of California’s budget or a quarter of one percent of the economic activity of California. 

California Assembly member Buffy Wicks, chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, said, as quoted by Bloomberg.com, “This has metastasized into a crisis of epic proportion. It deserves funding to address that at the same scale. Everyone says your budget is your values,” Wicks said. “If you look at the California state budget, there is not a line item that says funding for homelessness.”

<>Related Posts

Boil Water Notice Issued for Parts of Malibu After Construction Disruption

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

 Caltrans Bridge Work Triggers Precautionary Advisory Residents in sections of Malibu are being urged to boil tap water before use...

Big Blue Bus Returns to Palisades This Weekend

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

The Route 9 reinstatement is part of a larger set of service changes taking effect After months of limited operations,...

Providence Relocates Palisades Clinics to Santa Monica

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

The relocated clinics are now accepting both existing and new patients Providence has permanently relocated its primary care and pediatric...

Film Review: The Naked Gun

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

FILM REVIEWTHE NAKED GUNRated PG-1385 MinutesReleased August 1st   The Naked Gun plays to high expectations due to its historic legacy,...

Children’s Hospital to Expand Pediatric Orthopedic Services in Santa Monica with $10M Gift

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

The funding will support expanded clinic space, new equipment, and the recruitment of additional orthopedic specialists in Santa Monica Children’s...

‘Dad Bod’ Contest Comes to Venice Restaurant This Weekend

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

The competition will unfold over three themed rounds: a beachwear walk, a tongue-in-cheek “talent show,” and a final flex-off judged...

City Preps for Return of SaMoHi, Pali High Students by Boosting Safety

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Efforts to ensure student safety include reactivating school crossing guards, completing pedestrian safety upgrades, and promoting free public transit As...

Hot Dog on a Stick and Santa Monica Brew Works Team Up for Santa Monica’s Dog Days of Summer

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Dog-Friendly Event in Santa Monica Supports Local Rescue Group  Santa Monica’s four-legged residents will get their day in the sun...

Santa Monica’s ICARUS AI Launches Global Grant Initiative, Empowering 5,000 Lives Through Education

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

SANTA MONICA, CA – ICARUS AI https://icarus.education/ a local Artificial Intelligence and education technology company, headquartered right here in Santa...

Santa Monica’s Chez Jay Celebrates 66 Years with Retro Bash by the Beach

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Landmark Restaurant Celebrates With Classic Cars, Live Music, Celebrity Lore One of Los Angeles County’s most storied restaurants will mark...

Swiss Firm Partners with California Startup to Aid Wildfire Recovery With AI Robots

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

The robotic microfactories are designed to fabricate structural wall panels on-site with high precision, aiming to speed up the construction...

Film Review: Weapons

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

By Dolores Quintana You might be asking yourself what the film Weapons is about. Not to worry, writer and director...

Trial Date Set for Alleged ‘Ketamine Queen’ in Matthew Perry’s Death

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Woman Accused in Matthew Perry’s Overdose to Face Jury The woman accused of supplying the fatal dose of ketamine that...

Santa Monica to Enter Mediation Over Ebony Beach Club Land Seizure

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

The decision follows a year-long investigation into White’s efforts to open the Ebony Beach Club—a nonprofit intended to provide a...

(Video) Palisades Rec Center Completes Construction of First Responder-Themed Playground

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

The new playground–which replaces a near-40-year-old one–was made with funds largely generated by the FireAid Benefit Concert. Palisades Rec Center...