FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
May 21 2025

CONTACT:
Jonathan Lopez
jolopez2@riversideca.gov

SACRAMENTO – Today the California Big City Mayors coalition urged Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders to include funding for the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) in the fiscal year 2025-26 state budget.

Every year since 2018, the state has provided substantial investments to local governments and continuums of care to address homelessness in communities up and down the state – beginning with one year of funding for the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) and continuing with five rounds of funding for HHAP.

New data shows how these funds have translated into real progress. This month, the Big City Mayors released an “Accountability Update” highlighting the impact of HHAP funding in California’s 12 largest cities. The update includes program successes such as: 
 

• Across all 12 cities, California’s Big City Mayors have increased shelter bed capacity by over 17,000 beds through HHAP Rounds 1–4.
• California Big Cities combined have served over 152,000 individuals experiencing homelessness.
• The cities have collectively spent approximately 70% of the HHAP funds allocated by the Governor and State Legislature, ensuring resources are deployed effectively to address homelessness.

HHAP funding has been essential in helping tens of thousands of Californians transition from the streets to stable housing. Without it, cities and towns across the state will face a growing crisis. The Big City Mayors are calling on state leaders to restore HHAP in this year’s budget—and make it a permanent part of California’s solution in resolving the homelessness crisis. 
 

“As Chair of the Big City Mayors Coalition, I’ve seen firsthand how our cities use HHAP funds effectively to address homelessness. In Riverside, we’ve reached functional zero for youth homelessness—ensuring every young person aged 18 to 24 has a path off the streets,” said Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Chairperson of California’s Big City Mayors. “With 94 permanent supportive housing units in the pipeline for vulnerable populations like veterans and individuals with disabilities, we know that real progress is possible. But it takes continued partnership between the state and our cities to keep this momentum going and continue delivering meaningful results.”

“HHAP funding has been a lifeline for communities across California working to reduce homelessness,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Thanks to this program, we’ve served more than 32,000 San Diegans and helped nearly 8,000 exit homelessness into permanent housing. We will protect the progress we’ve made and keep investing in solutions that work for our most vulnerable residents.”

“Under my Breaking the Cycle Plan, we are expanding treatment, recovery, interim housing, and stabilization beds in San Francisco so that people struggling on our streets have a chance to get better,” said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. “We cannot find effective solutions to the homelessness and behavioral health crisis if the state eliminates vital resources. HHAP dollars fund 1,000 of our shelter beds in San Francisco and are a part of the reason that San Francisco has the lowest rate of street homelessness in the last 10 years. We cannot go backwards. I urge Governor Newsom and the legislature to do the right thing and restore HHAP funding so that we can continue this pivotal work.”- Mayor Daniel Lurie

“In the past four years, Fresno has added more than 850 shelter beds, which have helped to serve more than 10,000 people. Of those receiving shelter, 53 percent have exited homelessness and, two years later, 95 percent of those individuals remain housed,” said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. “HHAP funding has made this success story possible. Without continued HHAP dollars, all 850 beds would disappear, reversing the momentum we have built as a city and sending our most vulnerable residents back to the streets without any hope.”

“HHAP dollars are changing the future of California’s most vulnerable. Big Cities are connecting our homeless to shelter and care every day. With HHAP funding, Bakersfield’s partnership with a one-stop resource center for foster youth has taken hundreds of forgotten youth off the streets,” said Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh. “Through intensive case management, 79% of these homeless youth have found permanent housing and developed life-transforming skills. We cannot stop now. We call on the State to continue providing flexible, direct investments through HHAP to uplift our languishing brothers and sisters and end California’s paramount crisis”

“The City of Long Beach has leveraged state HHAP dollars efficiently, and we are seeing real results that are saving lives,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “These funds have helped expand our shelter, supportive housing, and services capacity, which contributed to an overall reduction in homelessness in our city for the first time in 7 years. This ongoing support from the state is needed so that our cities can continue to work collaboratively to expand housing and services, and help more people permanently exit homelessness.”

“HHAP funding has enabled the City of San José to invest in programs and strategies that reduce unsheltered homelessness and save lives,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “For example, HHAP has funded construction and operations of six interim housing communities that provide 520 beds for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Since their inception in 2020, the City’s interim housing program has served more than 1,900 individuals, demonstrating the scalable and multiplying effect of our innovative housing solutions. As of November 2024, 1,478 individuals exited the interim housing program with 69% moving to successful temporary or permanent housing destinations.

In addition to the profound impact on reducing unsheltered homelessness through interim housing, HHAP has been a critical resource in our region’s Homelessness Prevention System (HPS). The program provides one-time, short-term cash assistance and supportive services to households at risk of homelessness. Data shows that 94% of families remain stably housed while receiving prevention services; and on average, households received $7,397 in financial assistance.

It is imperative that the state sustain robust investments and partnerships with local governments that enhance our collective efforts to move individuals from the streets into safe, dignified housing. It is imperative that the state sustain robust investments and partnerships with local governments that enhance our collective efforts to move individuals from the streets into safe, dignified housing,” concluded Mayor Mahan.

“The City of Sacramento has depended upon HHAP awards to fund critical projects like our North 5th Street Navigation Center that is the first rung up the ladder for those experiencing homelessness,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty. “This shelter provides critical services and case management to connect guests to stable income and public benefits, helping individuals prepare for a transition to housing.”

“Through our HHAP-funded Irvine Cares initiatives, the City of Irvine is developing responsible and sustainable housing solutions that reflect the unique needs of the growing at-risk community in Irvine,” said Irvine Mayor Larry Agran. “Whether it’s supporting community college students facing housing insecurity or helping local families with school-aged children find stability, we are changing lives and strengthening our community. HHAP funding empowers Cities to target State funding directly where it helps residents the most. We urge the State to commit to ongoing HHAP funding to ensure no one is left behind in our pursuit of ending homelessness.”

“Last year, Los Angeles defied national increases with a 10% decrease in street homelessness and preliminary data points to another decrease for a second year in a row,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “We know that more needs to be done and this funding is vital to continuing that work. We cannot afford to go backwards – we must continue this momentum.”

About Big City Mayors 
Big City Mayors is a coalition of mayors from California’s thirteen largest cities with a population over 300,000. Member cities include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Stockton, Riverside, and Irvine.

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