Senator Rubio Meets With SGV Leaders About Homeless Funding

Senator Susan Rubio met with San Gabriel Valley leaders recently to talk about funding she secured from the state budget to help alleviate homelessness in the region.

In a meeting with members of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (COG), the Baldwin Park Democrat discussed how the $5.625 million she obtained will be distributed to the organization, which has representatives from each city in the San Gabriel Valley. The details are still being worked out on the state level, she said.

“Meeting our housing and homelessness needs is a long-term problem, but this funding is a great step in the right direction toward helping the most vulnerable among us to have a roof over their head,” Sen. Rubio said.

Senator Rubio said she introduced companion legislation that creates the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, a joint powers authority, which will allow the region to use public and private funding to help with the homeless population. SB 751 earned bipartisan support in the California Legislature and is waiting to be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. A committee appointed by the COG will create the bylaws and lead the Regional Housing Trust, she added, saying that it was important that the committee include experts in homeless and housing policy to inform the decisions.

The San Gabriel Valley saw its homeless population increase 24% this year, according to data recently released by Los Angeles Housing Services Authority (LAHSA).