Governor Gavin Newsom, Assemblymember Robert Rivas and Local Leaders Discuss Project Homekey to Tackle Homeless Crisis During COVID-19 Pandemic

SACRAMENTO – On Friday, October 16 Governor Gavin Newsom hosted a roundtable discussion on Project Homekey, the state’s nation-leading program to help local governments expand permanent, long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, with Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and local state leaders to discuss the program’s impact on efforts to tackle homelessness in rural communities. The roundtable discussion can be viewed on the Governor’s YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/ZFyI46a4voM Gov. Newsom recognized Asm. Rivas’s work on farmworker housing, stating, “He’s been a champion and a leader for years and years.” Asm. Rivas has distinguished himself in the Legislature as a champion of smart housing solutions, especially in rural areas of the state. One of his first bills, the Farmworker Housing Act of 2019, created an opt-in, streamlined process for new housing on surplus agricultural land, set quality standards to ensure that the new housing is dignified and family friendly, and put safeguards in place to protect the environment. This year, Asm. Rivas pushed hard for temporary, safe housing for agricultural workers as part of his COVID-19 Farmworker Relief Package. “We talk about housing – we often neglect the essential nature of an essential workforce here in the state of California – farmworker housing,” Gov. Newsom said when introducing Asm. Rivas. “Assemblymember, thank you for all of your hard work and thank you for your support. Moreover, thank you for your advocacy on behalf of not only constituents you represent but more broadly those that go often underrepresented.” Asm. Rivas spoke about the prevalence of homelessness in Salinas even before the pandemic, citing Sherwood Elementary School, where almost 40 percent of students were identified as homeless. On October 9, the Governor’s Office awarded the City of Salinas through Project Homekey over $9 million to convert a motel into interim housing units for over 100 chronically homeless residents. During the discussion, Asm. Rivas said the program will make a “profound difference” for many of those experiencing homelessness. “One of the most important aspects of this project is including access to wraparound services, like healthcare and social services, that will help folks transition off of the streets and do so permanently.”