Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Newsom Cheers Kaiser $25M Pledge to California Housing Fund
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
January 17, 2020

Share

OAKLAND — Calling California’s homeless crisis a public health issue, hospital giant Kaiser Permanente on Friday pledged $25 million to a new state fund aimed at getting people off the streets.

“Safe and stable housing is key to a person’s physical, mental and social health. Chronic homelessness has been shown to cut 27 years from the average lifespan and is associated with communicable diseases such as hepatitis and typhus, increased hospitalizations, and frequent readmissions.” — Greg Adams, CEO of Kaiser Permanente
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order last week creating what he proposes to be a $750 million fund that providers could use to pay rents, subsidize affordable housing or help board and care homes.
Kaiser said its donation is one of the first of its kind from the private sector.
“Safe and stable housing is key to a person’s physical, mental and social health,” said Greg Adams, CEO of the Oakland-based nonprofit healthcare company. “Chronic homelessness has been shown to cut 27 years from the average lifespan and is associated with communicable diseases such as hepatitis and typhus, increased hospitalizations, and frequent readmissions.”
The governor applauded the rapid response to his initiative.
“Just nine days after challenging California’s philanthropic and private sectors to partner with the state, Kaiser Permanente answered the call,” Newsom said in a statement. He has just wrapped up a statewide tour promoting his plan to combat spiking homelessness.
Last week Newsom declared himself California’s “homeless czar,” after promising a year ago to appoint one.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (left) and Fresno Mayor Lee Brand speak following a news conference on homelessness in Fresno on Jan. 15, 2020 (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)

Mortality Rates Among People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness

The California Access to Housing and Services Fund is a major part of his budget proposal that allocates more than $1 billion to address homelessness.

“Homelessness increases the level and amount of care the health system must provide, even as it limits how successful that care can be. Common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma are nearly impossible to manage without housing.” — Kaiser Permanente statement 
He is seeking another $695 million in state and federal matching funds for preventive health care, but some of that money could also go to helping people find housing.
Newsom has directed the state to provide 100 travel trailers and modular tent structures to cities and counties for use as temporary housing. He ordered state agencies to free surplus state property to house homeless people including alongside highways, in unused health care facilities, and on state fairgrounds.
He’s also seeking nearly $25 million for three counties to experiment with putting those who are deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial into community programs instead of state psychiatric hospitals.
Kaiser Permanente is based in Oakland, where it has teamed with the group Bay Area Community Services to house more than 500 homeless adults over 50 years old who are battling chronic health conditions.
Mortality rates among people experiencing chronic homelessness are 3 to 4 times that of the general population, Kaiser estimated.
“Homelessness increases the level and amount of care the health system must provide, even as it limits how successful that care can be. Common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma are nearly impossible to manage without housing,” Kaiser said in a statement.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Townsizing? Land Snorkeling? A User’s Guide to the Latest Travel Lingo

DON'T MISS

Trump Trade War Has Already Had Huge Effect on California Ports

DON'T MISS

Cambodian American Chefs Are Finding Success and Raising Their Culture’s Profile. On Their Terms

DON'T MISS

Ancient DNA Reveals a New Group of People Who Lived Near Land Bridge Between the Americas

DON'T MISS

FDA Approves Moderna’s New Lower-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine

DON'T MISS

Cabrera, Three Relievers Combine to Lead Marlins to Win Over Giants

DON'T MISS

Spike in Steel Tariffs Could Imperil Trump Promise of Lower Grocery Prices

DON'T MISS

Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap

DON'T MISS

California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Vows to Repeal Transgender Athlete Law

DON'T MISS

Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy

UP NEXT

How Gentrification Is Killing the Bus: California’s Rising Rents Are Pushing Out Commuters

UP NEXT

Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner Who Played Houlihan on Pioneering TV Series ‘M.A.S.H.,’ Has Died at 87

UP NEXT

Medicaid Work Rules Could Leave a Million Californians With No Health Insurance

UP NEXT

California Lawmaker Won’t Be Charged After Citation for Suspicion of Impaired Driving

UP NEXT

1 in 4 US Children Have Parents With Substance Use Disorder, Study Finds

UP NEXT

Dozens Sickened in Expanding Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Cucumbers

UP NEXT

Newsom Tussles With Local Officials Over Homelessness

UP NEXT

How Trump’s Vow to Revoke Chinese Student Visas Could Hurt California

UP NEXT

Speaker Johnson Raises Campaign Money in Fresno

UP NEXT

A Program Paying CA Jurors $100 a Day Would End Due to Newsom’s Budget Cuts

Ancient DNA Reveals a New Group of People Who Lived Near Land Bridge Between the Americas

23 hours ago

FDA Approves Moderna’s New Lower-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine

2 days ago

Cabrera, Three Relievers Combine to Lead Marlins to Win Over Giants

2 days ago

Spike in Steel Tariffs Could Imperil Trump Promise of Lower Grocery Prices

2 days ago

Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap

2 days ago

California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Vows to Repeal Transgender Athlete Law

2 days ago

Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy

2 days ago

Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump

2 days ago

US Defense Secretary Warns Indo-Pacific Allies of ‘Imminent’ Threat From China

2 days ago

Hamas Responds to the US Ceasefire Proposal for Gaza While Seeking Amendments

2 days ago

Townsizing? Land Snorkeling? A User’s Guide to the Latest Travel Lingo

For your next trip, have you considered townsizing? What about choosing a detour destination? And instead of forest-bathing, maybe it’...

22 hours ago

22 hours ago

Townsizing? Land Snorkeling? A User’s Guide to the Latest Travel Lingo

22 hours ago

Trump Trade War Has Already Had Huge Effect on California Ports

23 hours ago

Cambodian American Chefs Are Finding Success and Raising Their Culture’s Profile. On Their Terms

23 hours ago

Ancient DNA Reveals a New Group of People Who Lived Near Land Bridge Between the Americas

2 days ago

FDA Approves Moderna’s New Lower-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine

2 days ago

Cabrera, Three Relievers Combine to Lead Marlins to Win Over Giants

2 days ago

Spike in Steel Tariffs Could Imperil Trump Promise of Lower Grocery Prices

2 days ago

Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Out With Broken Toe After Late-Night Bedroom Mishap

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend