Davis Backs $2.1-Billion Bond to Aid the Homeless

Gov. Gray Davis promised a major commitment to end homelessness at an event Monday that took on the air of a rally for both the governor’s reelection and for a $2.1-billion housing bond on the November ballot.

While cautioning several times that there are no quick solutions to the problem, Davis also raised the visibility of the issue by presiding over a four-hour “Governor’s Summit on Homelessness” and heralding the creation of a task force headed by some of his top aides.

Davis used the occasion to sign legislation placing the housing bond on the November ballot. The $2.1-billion bond measure, the largest ever proposed in California for subsidized housing, is intended to help provide homes for low- and moderate-income people.

“Californians can no longer afford to avert their eyes,” the Democratic governor told state and local officials, homeless and housing advocates and representatives of the real estate and building industries, who filled an auditorium at a downtown Sacramento Boys & Girls Club.

“There are no silver bullets ... but we can make a difference,” Davis said.

A series of speakers described the scope of the problem--360,000 Californians, many of them mentally ill, are without shelter on any given day--and said better coordinated social services are needed to help them.

Several cited the need for additional temporary housing for people who are in the process of getting off the streets.

San Francisco Supervisor Gavin Newsom, who has attracted attention in Northern California for his efforts to solve the homelessness problem in his city, lauded Davis for taking a “political risk” by discussing the issue, adding, “It’s incumbent upon us to leverage the governor and hold him accountable.”

Newsom noted that in 2000, at least 183 homeless people died in the streets of San Francisco. But he added that efforts to end homelessness are not simply a social cause. Tourists to San Francisco often cite aggressive panhandling as their top complaint.

“The No. 1 complaint of tourists is homelessness; there is a huge cost,” Newsom said.

The event provided a backdrop for what may have been Davis’ most elaborate bill-signing ceremony ever.

The governor, who faces reelection in November, was seated behind a huge panel adorned with children’s artwork. A gospel choir provided musical interludes. The event was to be aired on Davis’ Web page.

The bill-signing itself was beamed by satellite for use by television stations that sent no reporters.

One speaker at the taxpayer-funded event, Carl Guardino, director of the Silicon Valley Manufacturers Group, urged that participants contribute to the housing bond campaign, saying that the effort will “cost millions.” As a start, Guardino told the audience he would be writing a check for $1,000.

Several speakers praised Davis, most notably for signing legislation in 1999 and 2000 earmarking $55 million to encourage mentally ill homeless people to move into housing and provide them services.

Maria Contreras-Sweet, Davis’ secretary for business, transportation and housing, lauded the governor for having “the wisdom and foresight” to convene the summit and assign cabinet members to work on the problem.

Several advocates for the homeless praised Davis’ decision to hold the summit, but questioned the timing, near the end of his first term. The issue has been attracting increased media attention recently.

“Whatever it takes,” said Ruth Swartz, director of Shelter Partnership Inc. in Los Angeles. “It’s a great time to reach out to the base--people who care about social issues.”

Charles “Bud” Hayes of the Single Room Occupancy Housing Corp. in Los Angeles called the summit “excellent” and said speakers “touched every base.”

“We’ve known for over 10 years every single problem and solution,” Hayes said, adding that the timing of the bill-signing added to “a high level of cynicism and low level of trust that government will follow through.”