I’m 68 years previous. I’m a grandmother. I’m homeless.
I by no means anticipated that, at this level in my life, I’d be dwelling in a lodge and positioned on a waitlist, hoping for an reasonably priced condominium to open up so I can lastly have a secure and everlasting place to name dwelling.
Seniors are the quickest rising demographic of Californians changing into homelessin accordance with a examine launched final yr by UC San Francisco’s Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. I’m additionally a part of the 80% of homeless seniors who had housing earlier than changing into homeless, whether or not that was because of lack of earnings, conflicts with a landlord or California’s excessive housing prices.
In my case, relentless harassment from my earlier landlord and quite a few code violations in my condominium constructing precipitated me to turn out to be homeless once more. Town’s housing division ordered me to vacate my dwelling due to the quite a few upkeep issues my landlord refused to deal with. Luckily, the town positioned me into the St. Joseph’s Middle housing program and I’ve been dwelling within the lodge for practically a yr.
Town has promised to maneuver me into a brand new reasonably priced dwelling, however thus far nothing has occurred. Why? There may be hardly any reasonably priced housing in Los Angeles.
In truth, there’s virtually no reasonably priced housing obtainable for low-income seniors like me, and others who don’t make sufficient to afford the state’s excessive housing prices.
Regardless of double-digit will increase in homelessness throughout the stateregardless of the shortage of reasonably priced housing, and regardless of homelessness polling as a high situation for Californians, the state has made little or no progress on investing within the housing so many people want. In 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom promised to construct 1 million reasonably priced properties by 2030. Two years later, the governor is nowhere close to that aim.
Making issues worse, in the newest state finances handed final monthover $1 billion was reduce from reasonably priced housing and homeless providers applications. California is spending lower than 1% of its finances on housingwhereas some $18 billion yearly is the funding wanted to unravel this housing disaster.
What’s worse, state legislators just lately refused to incorporate Assemblymember Buffy Wicks‘ proposed $10 billion reasonably priced housing bond on the November poll. This bond would have offered an enormous kickstart to the aim of constructing 1 million reasonably priced properties throughout the state.
It’s initiatives like these that may flip the tide towards homelessness and housing insecurity, providing hope and stability to seniors and weak populations. That’s why I strongly supported Proposition ULA in 2022, identified colloquially because the “mansion tax,” to tax the rich and fund reasonably priced housing in Los Angeles.
The state of California ought to observe go well with and do its half. We have now immense wealth proper right here in California, with extra billionaires than practically anyplace else on this planet. Taxing the wealthiest amongst us to fund housing options isn’t just smart, however morally it’s the best factor to do.
It’s an funding in the way forward for our communities, guaranteeing that everybody, no matter age, race or earnings, has entry to secure and dignified housing. By doing this, Newsom can ship on his promise of 1 million reasonably priced properties by 2030.
I’ve at all times believed the phrase, “you get what you pay for.” We are able to’t resolve the housing disaster on a budget.
