Simply put: there are more people in California
than there are homes. The average gross income for an individual or family to
live comfortably in California is about $70,000. What happens if your income
falls short of the average? What happens if it falls short enough that you end
up not being one of the lucky few who can find housing in this state? As of all
legislation in effect now: you are homeless. Even worse, you are not given a
pamphlet on what to expect, on where you may find your next meal, or on how you
are ever going to find housing again with a credit score reflecting an
eviction. No. You are alone and on the streets. You are given a “badge of
shame”, where others quickly assume your worth, your struggles with addiction,
and your level of education. Many are quick to presume the reasons some are homeless, but very few have
sought the truth as to why. Having more people than homes in California is
simple, but it is not the truth. Recently passed Assembly Bill 101 showcases
the truth.
(1) Assembly
Bill 101 (AB101), proposed by San Francisco Assemblyman David Chui and passed
on July 31, 2019, has already started to fund, revise, and restructure the
already existing housing program: The Community-Based Transitional Housing
Program (CBTHP).
(2) AB 101
enforces the housing developments for homeless shelters, transitional homes,
and housing for low-income individuals by setting aside roughly $650 million
annually for this program. Unlike current policies, it extends the auditing
process on both city and county levels, while providing case managers to help
individuals experiencing homelessness with income, benefits, health services,
and other social needs.