Bay Area cities join lofty Biden plan to tackle homelessness

[AZProgressive]

The Biden administration launched a new push Monday to house 100,000 Americans by the end of 2022 as the mayors of the Bay Area’s three biggest cities — all struggling with homelessness on a massive scale — jumped on board.

The House America initiative, which also aims to create at least 20,000 new affordable homes nationwide, asks city, county and state leaders to publicly commit to housing more people and building low-income units using new federal funds. In exchange, federal officials will offer support and guidance to help them meet their goals.

It’s a major signal from President Joe Biden’s administration that ending homelessness is a top priority despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and worries that expiring federal and state eviction protections soon will push more people onto the streets.

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“Oakland is in this 1,000%,” Mayor Libby Schaaf said, accepting the Biden administration’s challenge during a virtual event launching the program. Oakland has pledged to house 1,500 people and build 132 new units of housing by the end of next year, Schaaf said. More than 4,000 people are homeless in Oakland, according to the city’s most recent count.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/09/20/bay-area-cities-join-lofty-biden-plan-to-tackle-homelessness/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

[AZProgressive]

1. Phoenix, Mesa commit to Biden's initiative to address homelessness in country

President Joe Biden's administration announced a new, aggressive initiative to address homelessness in America, and two Arizona cities already have signed on.

The House America initiative encourages mayors, county leaders, tribal leaders and governors to commit funds they've received through the American Rescue Plan Act to rehouse people experiencing homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.

"Homelessness has no place in this administration's vision for this country," U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge said in a launch event Monday.

Localities that sign on to the House America initiative will set ambitious, numeric goals related to placing people experiencing homelessness into housing and building new housing options.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2021/09/20/phoenix-mesa-commit-biden-plan-address-homelessness/5788592001/

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