Legislature to Consider New Homeless Agency
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Homelessness in California is so widespread that the state needs a new office to coordinate a response, Senate President Pro Tem John Burton said.
Burton intends to seek legislation creating an Office of Homelessness, and requiring counties to compile statistics on how many homeless people die in the streets.
Last year, 235 people died in San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties, he said.
Burton also wants the state to borrow $2 billion to build affordable housing. Voters would consider the bond measure in November if the Senate-approved measure clears the Assembly this spring.
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