California Voters Pass Proposition 1 to Address Homelessness Crisis

California Voters Pass Proposition 1 , to Address Homelessness Crisis.

In a state that accounts for close to a third of all homeless people in the United States.

California counties will now be required to spend money "on housing and drug treatment programs" to fight homelessness, NPR reports.

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Gov.

Gavin Newsom raised over $13 million to promote the measure.

Proposition 1 represents California's first mental health system update in 20 years, NPR reports.

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This is the biggest change in decades in how California tackles homelessness, and a victory for doing things radically different, Gov.

Gavin Newsom, via statement.

Now, counties and local officials must match the ambition of California voters.

, Gov.

Gavin Newsom, via statement.

This historic reform will only succeed if we all kick into action immediately – state government and local leaders, together, Gov.

Gavin Newsom, via statement.

Revenue from a tax on millionaires, enacted in 2004, brings in about $2 billion to $3 billion a year toward California's mental health budget, NPR reports.

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Counties will now be required to spend two-thirds of that money to tackle homelessness.

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The state will also be allowed to borrow $6.3 billion to create an additional 6,800 beds for mental health and addiction treatment.

That money can also be used to construct 4,350 housing units.

Half of those housing units will be for veterans