Category: US State of California Governor

SACRAMENTO – Updating California’s roadmap for protecting the state government from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the release of an updated strategy — known as Cal-Secure 2.0 — to protect the state against new online threats, including artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled cyberattacks.

Building on California’s first statewide cybersecurity strategy launched in 2021, Cal-Secure 2.0 gives state agencies practical tools and guidance to strengthen the systems Californians rely on every day — from benefits and healthcare to transportation and public safety. The updated plan also prepares the state for new threats driven by AI and other rapidly evolving technologies.

Why this matters

Cyberattacks are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated. Criminals are increasingly using AI to create convincing scams, exploit security weaknesses, and target government and critical infrastructure systems.

This updated strategy gives state agencies a clear roadmap to identify their biggest cybersecurity vulnerabilities, strengthen protections, and respond faster when threats emerge.

What’s new

Since 2020, CAL FIRE’s Incident Management Teams has been activated 65 times to support complex incidents

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 to Washington State at the request of the Washington Department of Natural Resources, under the Northwest Compact Agreement. The team will help manage the Sinlahekin Fire burning in rural Okanogan County during a severe, climate‑driven fire season across the western United States.

CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 at the Pickett Fire 

This deployment marks the first time a CAL FIRE Incident Management Team has been mobilized to Washington State under the Northwest Compact Agreement. It reflects how California’s sustained investments in modern firefighting tools, aircraft, and year‑round staffing have positioned the state to support other communities while maintaining strong protections at home.

The team will provide incident leadership on the Sinlahekin Fire, which ignited from a lightning strike on Sunday, July 26, roughly 12 miles west of Tonasket in the Sinlahekin Valley, an area known for its steep, rugged terrain. In just three days, the fire has grown to more than 8,500 acres, driven by dry grass and timber, rolling boulders, falling dead trees, and rocky ledges that have kept firefighters from engaging the blaze directly in some areas. Forecasters expect windier conditions in the days ahead, which could push the fire further and limit the use of aircraft dropping water and retardant.

The Northwest Compact is a longstanding mutual aid agreement among participating states and provinces that strengthens wildfire response through the sharing of personnel, equipment, and resources when local capabilities are exceeded. The agreement ensures jurisdictions can quickly provide assistance during periods of elevated wildfire activity while maintaining readiness within their own states.

California’s capacity to lead

CAL FIRE maintains six Type 1 All‑Hazard/Complex Incident Management Teams, which are specialized leadership teams trained to run the largest and most complicated emergencies. These teams coordinate everything on a major incident: firefighting operations, planning, logistics and supplies, finance, public information, and safety.

This summer, a CAL FIRE Incident Management Team and strike teams have supported multiple states across the West as they face their own severe fire seasons, while the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has deployed additional resources and experts through established mutual aid and emergency management agreements. These deployments have included on‑the‑ground firefighting, urban search and rescue support, and recovery planning, alongside continued coverage for communities here at home.

“Wildfires do not recognize boundaries, nor does our shared commitment to helping one another,” said CAL FIRE Director, Chief Joe Tyler. “Our Incident Management Teams are among the most experienced in the world, and we are proud to support our partners in Washington as they work to protect lives, communities, and natural resources.” 

California’s recent deployment to Colorado to fight the Aspen Acres Fire

From Bainbridge Island to Burgundy

Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California has deepened partnerships with states, tribal nations, and international regions facing the same climate‑driven threats. These agreements allow firefighters, specialists, and equipment to move quickly to where they are needed most and create channels for sharing lessons learned from large, complex fires.

In addition to helping states like Washington and other western states respond to active fires this summer, Cal OES is providing technical assistance and training to French emergency and fire officials as they prepare for and respond to their own wildfires. California experts are sharing best practices on incident management, modern wildfire modeling, and community protection, strengthening ties with European regions and helping protect communities far beyond the state’s borders.

Filling the gap

As climate‑driven fires grow larger and more destructive, California continues to move forward with its own investments and mutual aid commitments, even as federal disaster leadership and long‑term recovery support have not kept pace with the scale of the crisis.

California has strengthened mutual aid systems, invested in modern firefighting technology and personnel, and created new tools to help wildfire survivors rebuild, often stepping in where other levels of government have lagged or delayed aid. The state’s willingness to deploy teams across the West and send technical experts overseas is part of California’s broader choice: to lead, rather than wait.

Strong at home, strong for our neighbors

The Northwest Compact is a long‑standing mutual aid agreement among western states and Canadian provinces that allows them to share firefighters, leadership teams, and equipment when local resources are overwhelmed, while still ensuring each state keeps enough personnel ready at home.

Since 2020, CAL FIRE’s Incident Management Teams have been activated 65 times to support complex incidents. These deployments have included responses to major wildfires, natural disasters, and extended recovery efforts, including support to the State of Hawaii following the devastating Maui wildfires.  

By deploying Incident Management Team 4 to Washington under this agreement, and by sending other CAL FIRE and Cal OES resources across the West and overseas for training and technical support, California is strengthening firefighter and public safety and demonstrating that with the right investments in training, staffing, and technology, a state can be both well‑protected at home and a reliable partner beyond its borders.

California’s recent deployment to Oregon under the Northwest Compact to fight against the East Evans Creek Fire

California’s mutual aid leadership 

CAL FIRE and Cal OES remain committed to protecting California communities while standing ready to support partner states and countries through mutual aid, technical assistance, and international climate partnerships, as peak wildfire season intensifies across the West and around the world.

Recently, California deployed resources to Colorado marking the first time CAL FIRE has deployed firefighting resources to Colorado under the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) state-to-state partnership. California also recently deployed firefighting resources to Oregon under the Northwest Compact.

California teams have responded to disasters in Florida, Washington, Alaska, Texas, New Mexico, Montana, Wisconsin, Hawaii,  Jamaica, Arizona, and Puerto Rico. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and Hurricane Ian are among other events California has supported.

SACRAMENTO – Newly released federal court documents and internal text messages reveal what Governor Gavin Newsom has said from the beginning: the Trump administration’s “immigration raid” last summer outside the Governor’s rally for the Election Rigging Response Act was a targeted stunt driven by politics.

According to exhibits filed in federal court, Homeland Security Investigations personnel described the raid as “a political agenda,” a “stunt,” and acknowledged that agents were pulled away from other enforcement activity to stage the operation near Governor Newsom’s August 14, 2025 press conference.

One message from Homeland Security personnel states: 

“Gavin Newsom was holding a press conference, so they decided to march from the federal building to where the press conference was. They arrested a couple people outside and just stood around to get media attention. . . . Bovino made a couple statements then they left and walked back to the (federal) building.” 

Another exchange states:

“They essentially raided the Newsom press conferences.”

“We got pulled off the [Home Depot] and car wash to run this stunt.”

And another:

“We were told to assist with targeted enforcement. That is not target(ed) enforcement. That was just a political agenda.”

In sworn deposition testimony accompanying those messages, an agent testified:

“They marched to a Democratic governor’s press conference. It seemed to be purely political. It did not seem like there was a good operational basis to be doing that. To me, it appeared political.”

And here:

“…the overall aggression that Border Patrol pursued this mission with seemed a little intense… It seemed to be pushing into like public spaces… it seemed to be escalating to less and less targeted.”

The timing

The August 14 operation was no coincidence. Federal agents converged on a press conference featuring Governor Newsom and other California leaders during a pivotal political moment, as Californians were engaged in a public debate over a proposal to redistrict to counteract the partisan redistricting effort underway in Texas. The timing and purpose described by the personnel raise profound questions about whether federal law enforcement was used to shape a political narrative at the height of an election-season debate.

The reality

These newly released court records directly contradict repeated public claims from the Trump administration that the immigration raid was unrelated to Governor Newsom.

The revelations come after Governor Newsom repeatedly warned that the Trump administration was weaponizing federal law enforcement against political opponents. In recent weeks, the Governor demanded records from Trump’s Department of Justice regarding its politically motivated investigation and condemned the DOJ’s unprecedented efforts targeting both the Governor and members of his family.

Beyond exposing the political nature of these operations, the court filings reveal deeply offensive racist remarks exchanged by some agents, including slurs used to describe Latinos and immigrants. The same records depict an enforcement strategy driven by politics, indiscriminate sweeps, and a dehumanizing attitude toward the people caught in them. 

The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed its immigration raids are about removing dangerous criminals. The evidence tells a different story. Their strategy has become one of dangerous quotas over public safety and headlines over results. Families have been separated. Parents have been detained on their way to work. U.S. citizens and immigrants have been wrongfully detained. Californians have been wrongfully deported. Communities have been terrorized by indiscriminate sweeps. Businesses have lost revenue and workers. And now, according to newly released court records, agents themselves describe being diverted from enforcement operations to carry out what they called a “stunt” and “a political agenda.” That’s not public safety. That’s the weaponization of federal law enforcement for political gain. 

Read the sworn deposition and the text messages. 

SACRAMENTO — Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order calling for a more efficient, effective, and engaged government, California has announced a new accelerated hiring guide projected to save well over 500,000 hours of staff time annually. These reclaimed hours will allow state human resources teams to redirect their focus toward improving the hiring process for applicants with faster timelines, deeper candidate engagement, and improved workforce planning.

Developed in collaboration with hiring managers across multiple state departments, including the California Government Operations Agency (GovOps), California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), and the California State Personnel Board (SPB), the initiative aims to eliminate overly bureaucratic hurdles for job seekers and hiring managers while strictly upholding the state’s constitutional commitment to merit-based employment.

“When I first stepped into this role, improving California’s hiring process was at the top of my priority list,” said California GovOps Secretary Nick Maduros. “The old way of hiring simply took too long, keeping applicants waiting and using precious state resources on outdated paperwork. It turns out we can uphold our civil service hiring requirements without constructing an overly bureaucratic system that’s so difficult to navigate. I’m so grateful for the work of the State Personnel Board, CalHR and HR professionals from across state government; together, we were able to chart a better course.”

Screening used to take an average of roughly 23.6 hours per recruitment. This new approach cuts this by 80-85%, saving roughly 18.9 – 20.0 hours per recruitment. Multiply that by an average of 28,500 hirings across the state each year, and it adds up to between 538,650 and 570,000 hours saved for staff every year. 

 “California continues to modernize hiring — from streamlined job classifications to faster, more accessible hiring pathways,” said CalHR Director Monica Erickson. “We are committed to ensuring the state continues to attract and retain top talent to deliver exceptional public service, while making it easier for Californians to build meaningful careers.” 

In the last year, the state announced hiring reforms that include pooled hiring to accelerate recruitment and classification consolidation, which looks to improve the upward mobility process for state employees. 

“Hiring has become one of the biggest challenges state agencies face today,” said SPB Executive Officer Suzanne Ambrose. “Competition for top talent is intense, candidate expectations continue to evolve, and outdated hiring processes can’t keep pace. By adopting a more strategic and efficient approach, hiring managers can build stronger teams and stay competitive in a rapidly changing talent market.” 

A new framework for applicant screening

This guide introduces a simple, flexible process for screening applicants that moves away from heavy, exam-style scoring. Minimum qualifications are assessed only for applicants selected for interviews, saving time and resources by focusing on candidates who are most likely to be hired. In addition, hiring teams can simplify their processes, focus on job‑related criteria, and avoid unnecessary or overly rigid steps — such as overdocumentation or unnecessary, extensive justifications. While these steps are designed to improve efficiency, departments can still use other merit‑based hiring methods that fit their operational needs.

Leading in government efficiency 

Governor Newsom has made efficiency and innovation — with appropriate safeguards protecting privacy, safety, and civil liberties — a top priority since the start of his administration. Governor Newsom has:

• Established the Office of Data Innovation, a group of technology experts dedicated to supporting other state agencies, departments, and employees to utilize data, technology, and principles of human-centered design common in the private sector to improve the delivery of services to Californians.

• Overhauled and modernized the Department of Motor Vehicles to reduce wait times, expand online services, and improve customer service.

• Implemented new cutting-edge technologies to fight wildfires, including cameras across the state and data modeling to improve incident reporting, and to predict where wildfires might occur and where drones should be deployed. 

• Issued executive orders in 2023 and 2026 directing state agencies to responsibly implement Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into state government operations and help support the work of front-line employees, with the appropriate privacy, security, and civil liberties guardrails.

• Launched a new partnership with Anthropic to provide AI productivity tools, training, and technical assistance to state and local employees, and developed a new AI tool, “Poppy,” specifically tailored for government use. 

• Launched the Emerging Technology Accelerator, leveraging pro bono technical expertise from UC Berkeley, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, Mozilla Foundation, Nava Labs, Tech Talent Project, and US Digital Response to modernize government service delivery. 

• Launched the Breakthrough Project with industry executives to support efficiency initiatives. The Breakthrough Project has helped save $12 million through pooled IT contracts, digitized 40,000 water rights records, expanded access to the Golden Bear Pass Program, and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by digitizing outdated printing processes. 

• Expedited the procurement process through an innovative Request for Innovative Ideas (RFI2), which allows state agencies to quickly test technology through safe and secure environments. Through this expedited process, California has already announced three important contracts that use GenAI to reduce highway congestion, improve traffic safety, and enhance customer service. 

Improving government services through engagement

Last year, Governor Newsom launched Engaged California, the first-of-its-kind digital platform that offers a virtual town hall setting to empower Californians to engage and share insights about a particular topic. The pilot project involved people impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. They aligned on a rebuilding and recovery process through a six-month conversation with 2,500 comments from Californians. The tool was also used to solicit input on efficiency ideas from state government employees. Currently, the platform seeks to give Californians a stronger voice in AI policy and assess its impact on the state’s economy and workers. This is the first statewide use of the tool, open to every resident.

SACRAMENTO – Helping address homeless encampments along sections of the state highway system, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced continued new partnerships with the cities of Ontario, San Bernardino, and San Diego. Under these agreements — called Encampment Delegated Maintenance Agreements — the state offsets the cost for local agencies that work with the California Department of Transportation to remove encampments.

These three new agreements build on 10 previously executed agreements throughout California, supporting Governor Newsom’s ongoing effort to unify state and local governments to address homelessness with compassion, results, and accountability.

While homelessness remains a nationwide challenge, California is achieving results that outpace the rest of the country, recording its largest reduction in homelessness in more than 15 years. These results stem from the Governor’s strategy to pair historic investments with stronger accountability, expand behavioral health and treatment services, increase safer, more permanent housing and shelter options, and help local communities move people from encampments into housing and care.

“California’s solutions to more effectively and compassionately address encampments are strengthened by working together across all levels of government,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Governor Newsom has challenged state and local agencies to build partnerships that improve safety while expanding pathways to housing and supportive services.”

Addressing encampments and improving safety

Under these agreements, cities can perform encampment removals on the state right-of-way, provided they follow state policies and reporting requirements to ensure eligible reimbursable costs are used effectively and transparently.

Encampments that threaten public health and safety remain the top priority in cleanup operations. Maintenance tasks under these agreements include the removal of encampments, litter and debris collection, vegetation management, and graffiti abatement. Caltrans has signed similar agreements with several cities, including the City/County of San Francisco, Claremont, Commerce, Fresno, Paramount, Riverside, Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs, San Jose, and Santa Monica.

Since July 2021, Caltrans has removed nearly 26,500 encampments along the state right-of-way and collected approximately 457,000 cubic yards of litter and debris.

“Caltrans understands the vital importance of local partnerships as we remain fully committed to our role of providing a safe transportation system for all Californians,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “These latest agreements combine the department’s best practices with regional expertise to deliver safer outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and the traveling public.”

“Keeping our freeway corridors safe and clean while helping people move off the streets and into shelter is a top priority for my administration,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “I’m grateful to Governor Newsom for his support and to our partners at Caltrans for renewing this agreement so we can continue this important work together, build on the progress we’ve made, connect more people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services, and deliver safer, cleaner freeway corridors for everyone who lives, works, and travels through San Diego.”

“Keeping San Bernardino clean, safe, and welcoming takes strong partnerships and a shared commitment to our community,” said San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran. “This agreement with Caltrans strengthens our ability to address encampments and remove debris along our freeways while ensuring outreach teams continue connecting individuals with shelter, supportive services, and pathways toward long-term stability. Together, we’re improving public safety, protecting our environment, and enhancing the quality of life for everyone who calls San Bernardino home.”

“The city of Ontario is pleased to enter into an Encampment Delegated Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans. This new agreement will allow the City’s public works department, police department and housing services personnel to address ongoing homeless encampments and debris more quickly in the Caltrans easements throughout the city,” said Ontario Public Works Executive Director Tito Haes. “Through this collaboration, Ontario is exhibiting our commitment to connecting those experiencing homelessness with our housing services staff to provide these individuals with housing and essential services.”

Strategies that work

Governor Newsom is the first Governor to make addressing homelessness — an issue decades in the making — a top priority. Since taking office in 2019, the Governor has created unprecedented policy and structural changes in state government to help California better address its housing and homelessness crises, including additional and unprecedented support for local governments, stronger accountability and enforcement, transformational changes to mental health services and state government, and groundbreaking reforms to create more housing, faster than ever before.

Increasing housing and support options 

California is creating more housing and support than any other state. According to newly published federal data, from 2024 to 2025, California’s calculated total year-round bed inventory increased by 15,013 beds, from 208,794 to 223,807 — the largest increase of any state and greater than the nationwide net increase. Recently, Governor Newsom announced $109.6 million in voter-approved Proposition 1 funding for 278 new permanent supportive homes in four California communities. 

California also ranked first in the nation across all shelter types — including creating permanent supportive housing, emergency shelter, and permanent housing. This adds to years of investments that have created more than 87,000 beds since 2019.

Reversing decades of inaction 

This work has created immediate, measurable results and the critical foundation necessary to finally solve California’s housing and homelessness crisis. Governor Newsom’s policies have had a significant impact, as indicated by new federal data:

• Historic drops in homelessness — California achieved the largest statewide reduction in unsheltered homelessness in 16 years. New federal data also shows California last year saw: 
  • Largest reduction in unsheltered homelessness in the nation. California reduced unsheltered homelessness by 8,391 people, or 6.8% — more than any other state. That decline is more than twice the national reduction of 2.9% and significantly exceeds that of the next-largest state by population, Texas, which saw a 1.4% decrease.
  • Total homelessness declined. California’s overall homeless population dropped by 2.8% — the state’s largest numerical decline since 2009.
  • Leading the nation in reducing homelessness in key populations. From 2023 to 2025, California ranked first among all states and the District of Columbia in reducing the numbers of veteran homelessness, chronic homelessness, homelessness among young adults ages 18-24, and homelessness among parents under 25.

In addition, Governor Newsom is addressing a housing shortage that has been decades in the making. Since 2019:

• Building is happening faster. Annual residential construction has increased by 59%, from 70,000 homes built in 2018 to about 111,000 in 2024.
• Multifamily construction has reached its highest level in decades. Over the last five years, more multifamily housing units have been built than in any five-year period in over 30 years, and more than 682,000 homes overall have been built statewide since 2019.
• Approval times have been slashed. Streamlining laws enacted since 2019 have cut the average time from development application to entitlement by 57%, from 160 days to 68 days in 2024. The time from entitlement to permit also dropped by 9%.  
• Communities are ready to build more. Through Governor Newsom’s work to ensure all jurisdictions do their part, communities throughout the state have laid the groundwork and have planned to accommodate at least 3.6 million new homes, including 1.4 million affordable units, moving California closer to meeting its long-term housing needs.

TUOLUMNE – Moving swiftly to support local and state response efforts to the Dove Fire, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Sunday that California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bolster the response to the Dove Fire burning in Tuolumne County.

The fast-moving Dove Fire ignited on July 26, 2026, just after 2:30 PM near Highway 108 and Stockton Street in Tuolumne County. More than 223 acres have burned, threatening several communities, including the towns of Sonora and Jefferson — forcing the evacuation of more than 600 homes and putting an additional 1,400 under evacuation warnings. 

“The Fire Management Assistance Grant is an important tool that helps ensure local and state agencies responding to fast-moving wildfires have the resources needed to keep communities safe,” said Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs. “Cal OES remains in close coordination with local emergency managers in Tuolumne County and CALFIRE to support response operations and help ensure communities receive the resources they need throughout this incident.

How the grant works

The FMAG, which is provided through FEMA on a cost-share basis, will assist local, state, and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75% reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.

Get prepared, stay ready

Residents are urged to stay vigilant during this heightened heat and fire weather period. Californians are reminded to: 

SACRAMENTO – For years, politicians in Texas and Florida have built an entire political brand around attacking California. But when it comes to economic performance, the results keep telling a different story — confirming what we have known in California for years: California’s economy has no peers.

A new analysis using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data shows California posted one of the nation’s strongest quarterly growth results, far outpacing Texas and Florida, while reinforcing its position as the world’s fourth-largest economy and America’s economic engine. California’s economy grew at a 3.7% annualized pace in the first quarter of 2026 — its best quarterly growth ranking since 2013 and one of the fastest growth rates in the nation. Meanwhile, Texas grew just 0.9% and Florida 1.6% during the same period.

California’s competitors like to market themselves as low-tax success stories, but for millions of working Americans, the reality is very different. In 16 states — including Texas and Florida — the lowest-income residents pay a larger share of their income in total state and local taxes than California’s wealthiest 1%. 

World-leading economy

As the world’s fourth largest economy, California continues to lead the nation where it matters most — creating new businesses, attracting venture capital, driving technological innovation, expanding advanced manufacturing, growing high-tech industries, and producing more than any other state. In fact, The Golden State continues to be: #1 state for new business starts, #1 state for manufacturing, #1 state for venture capital funding, #1 state for high-tech business, #1 state for agriculture 

California also remains home to more businesses than Texas or Florida and continues to be America’s start up capital — with more than 4.3 million small businesses employing 7.6 million Californians.

When it comes to job creation during the first quarter, California added about 131,500 jobs over the previous year — the largest increase of any state. California’s workforce posted a 4.2% productivity increase in 2025, making the Golden State the single largest contributor to national productivity growth and accounting for roughly 14% of total U.S. economic output.
 

“So-called rivals”

California’s recipe for success

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced today the creation of 278 new permanent supportive homes in the communities of Bakersfield, Contra Costa County, Fresno, and Sacramento, including 103 homes reserved for veterans through $109.6 million in Prop 1-funded Homekey+ awards. The investments build on the state’s ongoing work to reduce homelessness by expanding behavioral health services, while strengthening support for veterans across the state.

“Investments through Homekey+ aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. Today’s awards will directly lead to the development of hundreds of affordable homes for California’s veterans and those experiencing behavioral health challenges,” said California Housing and Homelessness Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “These investments would not be possible without the support of California voters and our key interagency partners. Together, we will continue to help build brighter futures and deliver tangible results for those with the greatest need.”

To date, Homekey+ has allocated $968.4 million to support 54 permanent supportive housing projects. These projects will create 2,749 affordable homes throughout California for individuals with behavioral health challenges who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Of these homes, 723 are reserved for veterans.  

“Homekey+ continues to deliver real results for California veterans,” said CalVet Secretary Lindsey Sin. “With more than 700 veteran-designated homes now supported through this program, these investments represent more than new housing. They represent renewed opportunity, stability, and dignity for those who served our nation. Every additional Homekey+ project means more veterans will have a safe place to heal, rebuild their lives, and look toward the future with greater confidence.”

Local investments with real results

Today’s funding will create affordable homes, with reserved units for veterans, in the following projects:

City of Sacramento: In partnership with Urban Capital LLC, will receive nearly $31.9 million from Homekey+ for the Rio Linda Senior Housing Project. The development will include 100 homes, including 49 homes dedicated to veterans experiencing homelessness with behavioral health challenges. The project serves seniors aged 55 and older. Sacramento and Urban Capital LLC will work in collaboration with BOSS Homes as the supplier of modular housing units.  

Contra Costa County: In partnership with Satellite Affordable Housing Associates, will receive $28.8 million in Homekey+ funding for Choice in Aging, an 82-unit senior housing community with 62 units reserved for individuals at risk of homelessness with a behavioral health challenge. Of those 62 Homekey+ units, 30 homes will be reserved for veterans. In addition to Homekey+ funding, Choice in Aging received just over $6 million in November 2021 from HCD’s Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program. This award will be conditioned on the awardee providing proof of a low-income housing tax credit award no later than six months following the Homekey+ conditional award.  

City of Fresno: In partnership with Parkway Prime LLC, will receive just under $32.6 million in Homekey+ funding to convert 106 interim housing units into 84 permanent supportive homes at Parkway Terrace. The interim housing project was a Round 2 Homekey project. The project will add critical resident amenities, including an upgraded on-site laundry facility, property management and case management offices, and reconfigured interior and exterior community spaces to support engagement and service delivery. Accessibility upgrades will include a modernized elevator and full ADA compliance across select units and common areas. Each unit will be updated with new kitchenettes, along with modern flooring, lighting, and bathroom fixtures. When complete, the project will reserve nine units for veterans.

City of Bakersfield: In partnership with Community Action Partnership of Kern, will receive just under $14.1 million from Homekey+ for the Ramkabir Permanent Supportive Housing Project. This acquisition and rehabilitation project will convert a 38-room motel into 30 permanent supportive homes, with 15 units reserved for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness with behavioral health challenges. In addition to its Homekey+ award, the project has committed funds of more than $1.1 million from the Homeless Housing Assistance Prevention Program, and a commitment of rental subsidies from Kern County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and Housing Authority of the County of Kern.

In addition, three previously awarded veteran-serving projects in the cities of Olivehurst, Sanger, and Stockton will receive an augmentation totaling $2.3 million, largely for operating expenses based on a March 2026 Homekey+ NOFA amendment designed to incentivize more veterans’ units.

“Thanks to voter support of Governor Newsom’s vision for addressing homelessness among Californians facing behavioral health challenges, we are creating thousands of homes with supportive services to give veterans and others a stable foundation for a more hopeful future,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “We are thrilled to see every project awarded today include homes reserved for our state’s military veterans, who are disproportionately impacted by homelessness after their service.”

The Homekey+ NOFA allocates funding by region based on a proportionate share of veterans and others experiencing homelessness, and by share of extremely low-income households whose rent is more than half of their income. There are also allocations for rural projects and for projects serving youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Homekey+ applications will continue to be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis.

Adding to hundreds of pieces of legislation signed since 2019, and groundbreaking CEQA reform enacted last year, last week Governor Gavin Newsom signed housing trailer bill legislation as part of the 2026–27 State Budget that advances the next major phase of California’s housing strategy. The legislation modernizes how California finances and delivers affordable housing and builds on the Governor’s efforts that have reversed decades of inaction on housing and homelessness — creating more affordable homes and achieving the largest reduction in unsheltered homelessness in more than 15 years.

Prop 1 in action: expanding supportive housing

Today’s awards continue the implementation of Proposition 1 while expanding permanent supportive housing for Californians experiencing or at risk of homelessness and living with behavioral health challenges. According to the 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, California reduced unsheltered homelessness by 8,391 people, or 6.8% — more than any other state.  

More than 1.2 million adults in California live with a serious mental illness, and 1 in 10 residents meet the criteria for a substance use disorder, increasing their risk of homelessness. Proposition 1 is helping California transform its behavioral health system with a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond to expand housing, services, and treatment for veterans and others experiencing homelessness. Once completed, Prop. 1 projects are expected to add more than 6,900 residential treatment beds and 27,500 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health.

The Homekey+ NOFA made approximately $1.03 billion in Proposition 1 bond funds available for permanent supportive housing projects serving veterans, and another $1.11 billion in Proposition 1 and Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program funds available for projects serving all target populations.

Reversing decades of inaction 

This work has created immediate, measurable results and the critical foundation necessary to finally solve California’s housing and homelessness crisis. Governor Newsom’s policies have had a significant impact, as indicated by new federal data:

• Historic drops in homelessness — California achieved the largest statewide reduction in unsheltered homelessness in 16 years. New federal data also shows California last year saw: 

  • Largest reduction in unsheltered homelessness in the nation. California reduced unsheltered homelessness by 8,391 people, or 6.8% — more than any other state. That decline is more than twice the national reduction of 2.9% and significantly exceeds that of the next-largest state by population, Texas, which saw a 1.4% decrease.

  • Total homelessness declined. California’s overall homeless population dropped by 2.8% — the state’s largest numerical decline since 2009.

  • Leading the nation in reducing homelessness in key populations. From 2023 to 2025, California ranked first among all states and the District of Columbia in reducing the numbers of veteran homelessness, chronic homelessness, homelessness among young adults ages 18-24, and homelessness among parents under 25.

In addition, Governor Newsom is addressing a housing shortage that has been decades in the making. Since 2019:

• Building is happening faster — Annual residential construction has increased by 59%, from 70,000 homes built in 2018 to about 111,000 in 2024.

• Multifamily construction has reached its highest level in decades — Over the last five years, more multifamily housing units have been built than in any five-year period in over 30 years, and more than 682,000 homes overall have been built statewide since 2019.

• Approval times have been slashed — Streamlining laws enacted since 2019 have cut average time from development application to entitlement by 57%, from 160 days to 68 days in 2024. The time from entitlement to permit also dropped by 9%.  

• Communities are ready to build more — Through Governor Newsom’s work to ensure all jurisdictions do their part, communities throughout the state have laid the groundwork and have planned to accommodate at least 3.6 million new homes, including 1.4 million affordable units, moving California closer to meeting its long-term housing needs.

SACRAMENTO – Acting Governor Robert Rivas today issued a proclamation declaring July 2026 as “Disability Pride Month” in the State of California.

The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below:

PROCLAMATION

California joins communities around the nation in recognizing July as Disability Pride Month, an opportunity to celebrate the many ways that people living with disabilities — whether visible or invisible, mobility or cognitive, vision or hearing, learning or sensory, developmental or acquired — add to the diversity and strength of our state.
 
Observed in July, Disability Pride Month marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a major civil rights milestone signed into law on July 26, 1990. Sponsored by California Congressman Tony Coelho, the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, removing barriers to employment, transportation, public services and other critical areas.
 
California is home to more than 7 million adults with disabilities and provides one in seven kids with disability services in schools. For decades, California has been instrumental in driving inclusion and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. With the Newsom administration, the California Legislature is working to expand educational opportunities, employment options, health and homecare access, civil rights, and community living for people of all ages with disabilities. The state also continues to prioritize accessibility of all state services and is deepening our commitment to employment opportunities for people with disabilities within state service.
 
Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are integral parts of our ongoing work to build a California for all. As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, let us reflect on the essential contributions of people with disabilities to our communities, our state, and our nation, and reaffirm our commitment to their rights and independence.

NOW THEREFORE I, ROBERT RIVAS, Acting Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim July 2026 as “Disability Pride Month.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 22nd day of July 2026.

ROBERT RIVAS 
Acting Governor of California

ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State