After weeks of negotiations, state legislators will start voting today on a budget deal that sets spending and policy across a wide range of issues affecting Californians.

California has severe income inequality, high living costs and a lack of affordable housing, and it now has more than 171,000 people who are homeless — 30 percent of the U.S. total. The new study found that they tend to be older than average and are disproportionately Black or Native American.

The latest Point-in-Time census showed slight decreases in the number of unhoused individuals counted across Santa Clara County and in the City of San José.

California cities of every size lack shelter beds for the state’s growing homeless population. A new bill would force local governments to do more, and punish cities that don’t plan housing for unhoused residents.

AB 1657 would authorize $10 billion in general obligation bonds to provide funding for affordable rental housing for lower income families, homeownership opportunities, and supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.

SB 634 would make the task of housing unhoused and low-income residents on vacant land easier for California cities.

The federal grant targets unsheltered and rural homelessness in San Jose and Santa Clara County.

Sen. Dave Cortese of San Jose began pushing for the audit after touring a massive homeless encampment on vacant land near the San Jose Mineta International Airport. San Jose will be one of two cities targeted by the audit.

How to spend approximately $1.5 billion in 2023-24 will be the first big test of political power for the mayor.

Tiny homes from the state will help the City of San Jose reach Mayor Matt Mahan’s ambitious goal of sheltering 1,000 unhoused residents by the end of the year.

The board approved more funds for senior housing, a land swap for supportive housing in Cupertino, an investment into rental assistance with seven non-profits, a new housing development in Milpitas and more affordable housing in Mountain View, some specifically for foster youth. 

The political debate over California’s highest-in-the-nation homelessness has boiled down to money with Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials at odds.

Building more emergency housing, adding more cops on the streets, expanding neighborhood cleanups and speeding up the permit process are key recommendations from advisory committees created last month by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. The mayor’s office today announced the recommendations released by the five “transition committees” he launched in January identifying approaches to solve what he calls the city’s most significant challenges. They are to be presented to the City Council Tuesday.

The city’s shifting demographics, a continuing affordable housing shortage, endemic homelessness, a looming budget deficit and the reality of five council elections – plus another mayoral ballot – in just two years create additional uncertainties.

Liccardo, a former city councilman, led the Bay Area city through a pandemic, a mass shooting, a homelessness crisis, a horrific flood and more.

Mahan’s new committees including council members, staff and community representatives will center around key issues raised by his mayoral campaign.