President Trump Weighs in on California Homelessness

Jetting to the Bay Area for a campaign fundraiser, President Trump this week generated headlines for a series of comments about California’s homelessness crisis. The remarks drew scorn and skepticism from many in a region dominated by Democratic voters, but they also highlighted a growing crisis that has eluded solutions at the local level. And they came at the same time the President’s Council of Economic Advisors released a report on the state of homelessness across the country. Preferring not to respond directly to the President’s comments, the Bay Area Council took the opportunity to share with his administration a comprehensive report we authored in April with McKinsey & Co. that examined the regional nature of the problem and made a series of recommendations for adopting regional approaches.

While some of the findings of the CEA report differ from the Council’s view of the problem, there were also areas of general agreement, including the need to focus first on increasing housing options for the homeless and easing costly regulations that drive up the price of new housing. The Council is ready to work constructively with any partners who believe we need to act with urgency in addressing the homeless problem. To engage in the Council’s homeless policy work, please contact Vice President of Public Policy Adrian Covert.