SACRAMENTO
– On Friday, February 12 the California State Auditor’s Office
released “Homelessness
in California: The State’s Uncoordinated
Approach to Addressing Homelessness Has Hampered the Effectiveness of Its Efforts,” a report that was requested by Assemblymembers Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) on
January
31, 2020, to examine and survey the lead
agencies of five Continuum of Care (CoC) areas and obtain a perspective of best practices for homeless services across the State.
“Homeless
Californians and their communities need help now,
and this report demonstrates that we have a long way to go,” Asm. Rivas said. “Clearly, there is a failure of communication and collaboration between the State and local agencies, which is preventing the necessary information and data from reaching State agencies
in charge of tackling homelessness. As a lawmaker and as a representative of four different counties that collectively have over 14,500 homeless people, I find this to be unacceptable. Departments, like the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council, need
to have the data, funding, and authority necessary to make tangible recommendations with urgency. It is also unacceptable that the Homeless Council, first created in 2017, has not yet released any priorities or timeline for ameliorating this homelessness epidemic,
which will undoubtedly worsen as a result of COVID-19 and the subsequent recession.”
California
currently has 43 CoC areas that cover the entire state and each lead agency of a CoC is responsible for planning the administration of homeless services. The responsibility and relationship between the lead agency and the CoC is crucial. The CoC program
promotes commitment within our communities to the goal of ending homelessness. They provide funding for efforts by non-profit providers, and State and local government to rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation
caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness. They also promote access and awareness of programs used by homeless individuals and families and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
“The
State Auditor’s report on homelessness unfortunately shows a system mired in bureaucracy, inefficiency, and clear lack of coordination,” said Asm. Cristina Garcia. “Our taxpayers and communities across California who are desperately trying to solve the homeless
crisis in a compassionate and timely manner expect and deserve better. I look forward to supporting legislation recommended in the audit to ensure our state’s Homeless Coordinating and Financial Council is collecting uniform data and coordinating best past
practices between the state, CoCs, and local governments. In addition, we must ensure the Homeless Coordinating and Financial Council has enforcement authority to ensure accountability for jurisdictions that fail to meet the statutory goals.”
In
the report, the Auditor’s Office found:
The State Has Struggled to Coordinate Its Efforts to Address Homelessness
The State Does Not Have Centralized Funding Information and Program Data to Combat
Homelessness
CoCs Do Not Always Employ Best Practices to Improve Homelessness Services in Their
Areas
For
a summary of the report, visit: http://auditor.ca.gov/reports/2020-112/summary.html
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, on behalf of the King City Police Department is informing the community that the suspect vehicle involved in a quadruple homicide that occurred Sunday, March 3 on the 200 block of North Second Street in King City, has been located and recovered. The vehicle was located in an unincorporated area of South Monterey County. The King City Police Department is receiving assistance from multiple local and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. Based on the nature of this investigation, no further details regarding the recovery of this vehicle are being released at this time. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office and the King City PD are asking the community for their assistance in reporting any information they may know regarding this incident which tragically left 4 people dead and 7 people injured, two with critical injuries. Information can be provided by contacting the following: King City Detective Sergeant Josh Partida 831-3
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