The Veterans Housing and Supportive Services bill put forth by Senator Gilbert Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) (pictured) is heading to the full senate, according to a press release from Cedillo's office.
The bill proposes a $1.5 billion bond on the November 2010 ballot to fund rental housing for extremely low income veterans. According to Cedillo, California has the second largest population of homeless veterans in the nation with 30,000 to 55,000 veterans sleeping outdoors on any given night.
He writes: “As California welcomes home its sons and daughters from Iraq, we need to be prepared to accommodate their need for housing and services." While not breaking it down by vets, Santa Monica recently conducted a homelessness count that actually found an 8 percent reduction in the homelessness population.
And in related news, the California Coastal Commission will decide in June whether to approve that city proposal to establish five overnight parking districts in and near Venice that would prevent people from sleeping in their vehicles. [Senator Gilbert Cedillo]
