California is finally seeing real progress in its fight against homelessness, and the state is doubling down on what’s working. Governor Newsom announced $145.4 million in funding to eight regions across the state as part of the Homelessness Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program, building on a historic 9% reduction in unsheltered homelessness last year, the first drop in 15 years.

This funding comes at a crucial moment. The HHAP program has already helped transition over 100,000 Californians from homelessness into permanent stable housing, and these new investments are designed to keep that momentum going. Eight communities, Lake, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Solano, Yolo, and Yuba regions, will receive money to expand housing, strengthen services, and get people off the streets.

What makes this different from previous efforts is the accountability factor. The state has implemented rigorous review processes to ensure funding actually creates results. Communities receiving money have to demonstrate they’ll make a real impact, maintain compliant housing elements, and face potential clawbacks if they fail to show progress. This means your local government has to prove it’s serious about solving homelessness before getting the cash.

The breakdown shows the state’s priorities are clear: 80% of HHAP budgets in these eight communities are dedicated to permanent and interim housing. For example, Santa Clara County is getting nearly $49.9 million to sustain interim housing and supportive services, while Orange County receives $35.1 million to fund rapid rehousing and operate shelters. Even smaller counties like Yuba are getting nearly $600,000 to expand existing interim housing with crucial amenities like kitchens, laundry facilities, and counseling spaces.

Beyond just throwing money at the problem, California has been systematically tackling homelessness from multiple angles. The state streamlined housing construction, expanded mental health treatment beds beyond promises made in Proposition 1, updated conservatorship laws for the first time in 50 years, and created the CARE court system for people struggling with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. The state even cleared encampments in California’s largest cities through the SAFE Task Force, helping connect hundreds of people with shelter.

With $5 billion appropriated across all HHAP rounds so far and another $500 million planned for the coming year, California is making a structural bet on homelessness prevention. These aren’t temporary fixes, they’re investments in permanent housing and long-term services designed to keep people housed and connected to support.

You can track how your community is performing on homelessness and housing at accountability.ca.gov. The state is betting that transparency and real accountability will finally move the needle on a crisis that’s defined California’s cities for decades.