Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  •  

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg To Head California’s New Homelessness Commission

  •  Sammy Caiola 
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Health care and housing advocates are increasingly trying to address mental illness, substance addiction and homelessness all at once, instead of providing one-time assistance in emergency rooms and shelters. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg has long pushed for this strategy — and now he’ll be championing it for California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

At his State of the State address Tuesday, the governor announced that Steinberg will lead the new Commission on Homelessness & Supportive Housing, with the goal of addressing the underlying causes that keep people on the streets.

The governor noted that many of California’s homeless, “whether they're families, veterans, victims of rent spikes, or survivors fleeing domestic violence,” are suffering from illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or paranoia.

“Many are self-medicating with drugs or alcohol as a consequence,” Newsom said. “Our homelessness crisis has increasingly become a public health crisis.”

Instead of traditional shelters, Newsom wants “navigation centers” where people can receive social services on the spot.

In Sacramento, Steinberg is already trying something along those lines. The city’s “Pathways to Health and Home” program identifies homeless people who frequently visit the emergency department and pairs them with community health workers. These workers help clients get to medical appointments, find addiction help, enroll in public aid, apply for work, and find housing if possible — though it often proves difficult in the city’s overcrowded housing market.

“Homelessness is a statewide crisis, but homelessness does not have to be helplessness,” Steinberg said.

Right now, the Pathways program, and two dozen like it throughout the state, are funded by a federal waiver. Newsom announced Tuesday that he’d like to put $100 million into this strategy.

He also wants to invest in solutions that could prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place, such as funding more housing with built-in mental health or addiction services.

“Because while shelter solves sleep, only permanent supportive housing solves homelessness,” Newsom said.

Some homeless advocates have criticized Steinberg for not getting enough people off the street. Others have said they appreciate that he prioritizes the issue.

Steinberg previously focused on housing and mental health issues as state Senate president pro tem, where he sponsored a housing bond called “No Place Like Home”. The bonds are designed to build new housing  for people with mental health services who are experiencing or at risk for chronic homelessness. They’re repaid by funding from the Mental Health Services Act, which Steinberg authored.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    Interview: Mayor Darrell Steinberg Discusses Sacramento’s Schools Crisis, Pro Soccer, Rent Control, Arts Funding And ‘Strong Mayor’

    Tuesday, April 16, 2019
    He spoke with CapRadio’s Beth Ruyak in a wide-reaching conversation — including a discussion of whether he’ll run for a second term and push a ‘strong mayor’ ballot measure next year.
  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    Governor Newsom Proposes Scaling-Back Of California Bullet Train Project In First State Of The State Address

    Tuesday, February 12, 2019
    The governor also discussed reducing former Gov. Jerry Brown’s Delta tunnels plan to one tunnel, and criticized President Trump for "fear-mongering."
  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    Transcript And Analysis: State Of The State 2019

    Tuesday, February 12, 2019
    Read the full text of Gov. Gavin Newsom's 2019 State of the State address, annotated by Capital Public Radio reporters.

 homelessnessState of the State 2019

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sammy Caiola

Former Healthcare Reporter

Sammy Caiola has been covering medical breakthroughs, fitness fads and health policy in California since 2014. Before joining CapRadio, Sammy was a health reporter at The Sacramento Bee.  Read Full Bio 

 @sammycaiola Email Sammy Caiola

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

The Great Culling: Which California bills did legislators kill?

May 20, 2022

California 2022 primary voter FAQ

May 19, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

May 19, 2022

Most Viewed

Suspected monkeypox case reported in Sacramento County

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Some living in 209 area code will need to switch to 350

A Sacramento County nonprofit is offering to pay $3,000 worth of bills if you test positive for COVID-19 at their clinic

A married couple turns an out-of-commission helicopter into a camper

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Suspected monkeypox case reported in Sacramento County

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Some living in 209 area code will need to switch to 350

A Sacramento County nonprofit is offering to pay $3,000 worth of bills if you test positive for COVID-19 at their clinic

A married couple turns an out-of-commission helicopter into a camper

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.