Sacramento âAssemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) and Assemblymember Tom Daly (D â Anaheim) announced today that they will introduce legislation to allow Orange County cities, the County of Orange, local businesses and philanthropists to pool their resources through a newly-established agency to pay for construction of supportive housing units.
âHelping the homeless in Orange County will depend on a multifaceted approach. There is no singular remedy to address the crisis. Supportive Housing means having cooperative actions at every level; local and state resources need to combine with the efforts of the public and private sector,â said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva. âNevertheless, transparency and accountability are of paramount importance to ensure that funds are used with the trust of the public.â
Supportive housing links decent, safe, affordable, community-based housing with flexible, voluntary support services designed to help the individual or family stay housed and live a more productive life in the community.
âSupportive housing is an evidence-based approach that combines affordable housing assistance with wrap-around support services for people experiencing homelessness,â Assemblymember Daly said. âStudy after study has proven that supportive housing not only addresses homelessness and increases housing stability, but it also lowers costs to taxpayers by reducing the use of publicly-funded crisis services, including shelters, hospitals, psychiatric centers, jails, and prisons.â
The two lawmakers say their bill will support an initiative, led by the Associated Cities of California â Orange County, to establish a regional public-private partnership to help homeless individuals transition off the streets into stable housing.