As senior counselor to Gov. CARE Court is intended to be a voluntary program, and each plan would come with a public defender and a personal advocate as part of a client-centered approach. Q: Has Project Roomkey achieved everything you hoped it would? UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms So what of the slew of housing bills at the state Capitol? View Jason Elliott's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Thats goal number one.. To fundamentally alter the reality that we see on the streets requires us fundamentally altering our approach. Yes, it has. People have had it. 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Newsoms approval hobbled by crime fears, homelessness crisis, poll finds, De Len proposes a new city department of mental and public health, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? Gov. Were heading down the same path here, Elliott said. Emily Swide, 25, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of Schedulingfor the Governor. Her stories focus on We believe that a transformational proposal like CARE Court should be thoroughly vetted by stakeholders and informed by research and data before it is adopted. Elliott spoke with this news organization about those programs, how they started, and where we go from here. In high school and for part of college, Elliott dreamed of becoming a journalist. But its the money needed to run CARE Court that concerns local officials. Steer more federal dollars into homeless response. That was the challenge we were facing. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Prior to joining CalEPA, Christine served as Assistant Director for Policy Development at the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), where she previously served as Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs. Hes the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. Elliott was joined on the virtual panel, moderated by CalMatters, by Jennifer Svec, legislative advocate for the California Association of Realtors; Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, a Democrat from the East Bay; and Adam Fowler, research director at Beacon Economics, all of whom agreed that a supply shortage waslargely responsible for ballooning home prices. Those concerns are likely to be raised as Newsom continues to conduct roundtable discussions with stakeholders throughout the state. "Sometimes people return to the streets, sometimes they return to . And then the high risk factor you apply to that population. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly made housing affordability a top priority of his administration. But nowhere near the levels that I mentioned to you a moment ago we were fearing would come to pass. "Before we can reach our stretch goals, before you can reach the moon, you've got to get off the launch pad," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor on housing and homelessness. As health officials scrambled last March with shelter-in-place orders to slow the spread of COVID-19, Jason Elliott wastacklinganother seemingly overwhelming problem: How do we keep the more than 100,000 Californians sleeping on our streets from dying of the virus? We dont have a concrete number, but you could assume we produce as a state maybe between 2,000 and 5,000 units of permanent housing in any given year. And if the question is has it worked, I think unequivocally the answer is yes. Elliott, a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University, has been with Newsom for years, working for him when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco and lieutenant governor. A lot of smaller cities are not just making this San Francisco and Oaklands problem. Ive been really encouraged by the warm embrace of local leaders on Homekey. So when you do all that math, youre looking at about 25,000 homeless people losing their lives from coronavirus. Newsom also attached accountability measures to the program, including sanctions for local governments that dont comply with program requirements and diverting people into stricter conservatorships or letting their paused criminal cases continue if they fail to meet their CARE plan obligations. and we're trying to keep up and make sure that we can keep up with protecting Californians," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior adviser. "Local government has a responsibility to put their hands up and be part of the solution," said Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor on housing and homelessness. But nowhere near the levels that I mentioned to you a moment ago we were fearing would come to pass. Jason Elliott Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Local governments face sanctions if they do not comply with program requirements. Californias governor is fast-tracking a plan to compel people into court-ordered treatment, but a lot of details are still in question. As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution Has the federal government embraced it and now is providing 100% reimbursement on the costs? Workforce development for those skilled trades is going to be so essential.. Hironaka is a Democrat. We have exploded in bringing more interim housing beds online. LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases, How California used COVID-19 to create housing;, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), How California used COVID-19 to create housing; a top Newsom adviser weighs in, Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month, LA County reports 14 COVID-related deaths, 1,300-plus cases on Friday, As COVID health emergency ends, LA County officials still urge caution, UCLA nurses want end to COVID-era overcrowding in hospital halls and rooms, LA County reports 15 More COVID-related deaths; 882 new cases. A:I dont want to leave your readers with the impression that Project Roomkey is going to once and for all solve homelessness in California, because its not. Health | Lets start with yes, unless theres a reason not to build.. A, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bay Area weather: After thunderstorms and hail, snow could be on the way this weekend, How California used COVID to create housing. What was the most difficult thing about navigating that? And it aimed to protect some of the most vulnerable Californians from a disease that we didnt know anything about. Jason Elliott, Newsom's senior counselor, will move into the deputy chief of staff role. And through really deliberative debate and discussion, we started to land on the idea of using hotels. Pasadena to terminate local COVID-19 orders this month Jason Elliott is the top housing adviser to Gov. g 8 endstream endobj startxref 0 %%EOF 55 0 obj <>stream Its a new day, new paradigm, and we are looking forward to getting something big done.. Honestly sometimes when something is working, you dont tinker with it. In response, Fowler agreed that California, like the rest of the country, faces a severe shortage of labor, union or otherwise. But with so many other cost drivers such as skyrocketing lumber prices wages arent the problem. Elliott has worked in government his whole career, and he met his wife in Gavin Newsoms administration, when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco. Related Articles Governor Newsom had previously announced Ana J. Matosantos as Cabinet Secretary, Jason Elliott as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Executive Branch Operations, and Angie Wei as Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Policy Development. Hebegan his careerat the State Capitolas a legislativeaide to State Senator FranPavley. Yes, it has. Gavin Newsom. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. Newsom, wrapping up his week . SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov. Project Roomkey has sheltered more than 35,000 homeless Californians in hotels and motels throughout the state, giving people over 65 or with medical conditions a safer place to ride out the pandemic. Jason Elliott, Newsom's deputy chief of staff, said the governor's "hope and expectation is that this will be going out in short order." However, he added that the ball was in the court of . Gavin Newsom, Born: New York City, but grew up in Palo Alto, Family: Lives with his wife and their 15-month-old daughter, Prior job: Chief of staff to San Francisco Mayors Ed Lee and London Breed, and policy director for Newsom when he was mayor. I will be reviewing the legislation very closely and recommending any amendments necessary to ensure that CARE Courts can truly help those most in need, while not unduly limiting their constitutionally guaranteed rights, he wrote. The governor wants to work the proposal through the budget this spring so the CARE Court program is ready to go into effect when the new fiscal year starts on July 1, as opposed to implementation after the lengthier policy process. ChristineHironaka, 31, of San Francisco, has been appointedDeputy Cabinet Secretary. Some were practical and some were impossible. He highlighted $12 billion in the governors budget proposal for housing and homelessness and $1.75 billion to kick-start building on more than 6,000 of backlogged affordable housing units. But the question is are we doing better than previous models? But the bill may face a major hurdle once its heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. So what of the slew of housing bills at the state Capitol? Concerns about rising crime and the homelessness crisis emerged as the top issues driving voter dissatisfaction with Gov. Logman is a Democrat. 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And the type of housing available is just as important as how much of it there is, said L.A. Family Housing President and CEO Stephanie Klasky-Gamer. We start with no. And then the high risk factor you apply to that population. Elliott: I think the most challenging part was trying to take the mayors staff and key department heads and insulate them from the political turmoil that was happening inside City Hall and around the city. This is a very small segment of the population. Elliott: The job of a chief of staff is to implement the vision of the mayor that he or she works for. What could reparations mean for Black residents of Alameda County? Elliott said he was watching with glee the Biden administrations $5 billion proposal as part of his infrastructure plan to encourage local governments to end exclusionary zoning and other practices. But the bottom line is that he tackles difficult issues and advises the governor on how to respond, and his portfolio is expanding exponentially. Q: What percent of Project Roomkey clients have exited to permanent housing? He is married to Nicole Elliott, director of the state Department of Cannabis Control. He hasnt had a day off in months. State Sen. Susan Eggman, a Stockton Democrat and one of the authors of SB 1338, said she would modify the bill to address certain concerns before then, but on some issues, were just going to have to agree to disagree., It is a work in progress, she said. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said the issue is a high priority for her members, and appeared open to the idea of the proposal being worked out through the budget. 5. Over the coming months, he would advise two different mayors as the city went through a truncated and highly contentious special election to replace Lee. Were coming up with a completely new paradigm, a new approach, a different pathway, and its consistent with our values, Newsom said earlier this month when he announced the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court. One example: a 2013 law designed toincrease infill developmentin green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment Court, Newsoms new push for homeless mental health treatment lacks details. We want to move, and we want to move quickly, Newsom said during a recent interview on KQED. We start with no. We have 108,000 unsheltered homeless people in California. One example: a 2013 law designed to increase infill development in green zones, which Elliott said could potentially allow for millions of housing units to be built. If they start listening to us and really take coercive approaches and court-ordered approaches off the table, I think theres more hope that we can work with them on something that we can all support, Imparato said. The proposal is so new there aren't many details. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. Title: Senior Counselor to Gov. Our message to LA and the Bay Area and to everyone is: Project Roomkey is here and funded at least through September of this year, with 100% of the cost borne by the federal government. We are adding judges and attorneys into the mix in hopes of better connecting unhoused individuals with housing and medical care, but nothing else really changes, she said. . Jason Elliott, Newsoms top housing and homelessness advisor, said Monday that the administration expected some opposition to the proposal. Has the federal government embraced it and now is providing 100% reimbursement on the costs? We are using the states money to invest in one of the states top priorities homelessness. Despite the urgency, the number of people who would likely benefit from the initiative is limited. Has it protected 35,000 homeless Californians? If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Q: As a result of Homekey, the state has added more than 6,000 new long-term housing units in less than six months. I think everyone thinks this is the year to really get things done, she said. Not every participant would need to be homeless to qualify, but the Newsom administration expects CARE Court could help thousands of people who have spent years living without a home, as well as those cycling in and out of jails and hospitals. They said they worry that CARE Court would disproportionately target people of color, who are more likely to be homeless and diagnosed with psychotic disorders, and that CARE Court would enable unacceptable shortcuts in the legal system that could remove bodily autonomy and medical decision-making power. Please reload the page and try again. Q: What percent of Project Roomkey clients have exited to permanent housing? A: Thats a great question and I wish I had a more straightforward answer for you. 2. Clear out encampments, and at the same time connect people with housing and services. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. We have the wrong reflex around housing in the state. hb````` Have it become a fundamental part of addressing homelessness in California. Health | . By clicking subscribe, you agree to theTerms. We couldnt control the outcome of the mayoral election, and my advice to staff and department heads was: Dont try to do that. A governors signature does not build new units, he said. The big takeaway: California is millions of housing units short, and cities hold the key. Hes also been a chief deputy cabinet secretary, director of intergovernmental affairs, senior adviser, and more. Tell me about that transition and sort of what your role has been. So wed really like to see communities not only continue the portfolio that they have under Project Roomkey, but potentially expand it, and expand it significantly. Elliott acknowledged the state's behavioral health system has . Some policy bills face a key deadline next week, but Elliott declined to comment on specific bills, includingSenate Bill 9,which would allow homeowners to put a duplex on single-family lots or split them. The big takeaway: California is millions of. And they argued the plan relies on a variety of concepts that are not clearly defined in the proposed legislation or in California law, which will result in confusion and inconsistent application of CARE Courts across the state. Newsom proposes plan to help homeless Californians with severe psychiatric, substance abuse and addiction issues get into housing and treatment. And that is great, but if you keep doing these interim housing solutions, you are not solving homelessness for them, you are hiding them.. He comes from a family committed to public service. Hannah Wiley is a politics reporter for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau covering the California Capitol and state agencies. Yes, it has. "We knew that a proposal this consequential, a proposal that aims to change the status quo so deeply, wasn't going to be received unanimously, wasn't going to be received with everyone clapping and cheering . Mayors of some of the states most populous cities have endorsed the plan as a way to alleviate a humanitarian crisis in full display on their streets. hbbd```b``Z""H>UD>&jH`AH2::30m\ Because people just want to get people inside off the streets, Klasky-Gamer said. The Newsom administration says the excess land plan will help offset shelter costs for cities and counties at least, those willing to seek the help. He also emphasized that just as important as passing new legislation is implementing laws already on the books. Gavin Newsoms gubernatorial campaign. For all we knew, this was going to happen in a matter of weeks. Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom. We believe the answer is yes, and we are in the process now of doing some program evaluation to be able to back that up with data. Oakland airport passenger traffic shows steady post-COVID rebound My favorite part of the job is when we get together in a room and theres just this unsolvable, complicated problem, and you get to just dive into it and unpack it piece by piece and try to help solve the unsolvable. He spearheaded two programs that together wound up being one of the states biggest feats during the unprecedented pandemic. Were putting out more homeless housing through this program than we probably do in several years under normal circumstances. Health | Jason Elliott, 36, of Sacramento, is now serving as senior counselor to the Governor for housing and homelessness in the Office of the Governor, where he has served as chief deputy cabinet secretary. Katie Talbot, spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), said the idea would need to go through the policy committee process.. Gavin Newsom. LZe$h#0m1Nx@,Z@XO"F"K"]w8|qWWhh\6^i Are we doing much better than previous models? A: I remember it was a Sunday afternoon and I was walking my dog and I got a call from our then chief of staff Ann OLeary and she said I need you at (the Office of Emergency Services) right now. Q: How can we continue this momentum post-pandemic? 1. Before that, she was a Legislative Assistant at The Crane Group and a Research Assistant for the British ParliamentaryLabourParty. View Jason Elliott's business profile as Senior Counselor On Housing at Newsom. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $135,000.