DHHS Director Connie Beck will testify at senate hearing on homelessness crisis during the pandemic

Five Senate committees are coming together tomorrow (Wednesday) for a critical hearing on the homelessness crisis during the pandemic. Senator McGuire will be leading the discussion.

Homelessness and housing experts, local officials, and advocates from across the state will testify during the hearing: “A Perfect Storm: Confronting California’s Homelessness Crisis during the Pandemic.”

At Wednesday’s hearing, the Committees will be focused on the state’s recent actions to address the homelessness crisis with a special emphasis on Project Roomkey and Homekey. In addition, local government representatives will be providing an update on their efforts along with discussing challenges brought on by the pandemic. Finally, the Committees will hear from direct service providers who are working everyday to combat this growing crisis here in California and throughout the West.

Here are the hearing details:

Who: Senate Governance and Finance Committee; Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services; Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Subcommittee 4 on State Administration and General Government; Senate Housing Committee; Senate Human Services Committee (led by Chairs: Senators McGuire, Eggman, Caballero, Wiener, and Hurtado)

Panelists: 

·          Ali Sutton, Deputy Secretary of Homelessness, California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council, Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency

·          Kim Johnson, Director, Department of Social Services

·          Gustavo Velasquez, Director, Department of Housing and Community Development

·          Jim Provenza, Supervisor, Yolo County Board of Supervisors

·          Cheryl Viegas-Walker, Mayor, City of El Centro

·          Heidi Marston, Executive Director, Los Angeles Homelessness Services Authority

·          Connie Beck, Director, Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services

·          Jody Ketcheside, Regional Director, Turning Point of Central California

·          Robynne Rose-Haymer, Director of Housing Services, Sacramento LGBT Community Center

·          Alejandra Gomez, Youth Advocate

What: Senate Hearing – “A Perfect Storm: Confronting California’s Homelessness Crisis during the Pandemic”

 When: Wednesday, February 24 at 8:30am

 Watch live online: www.senate.ca.gov