Orgs lobbying for California legislature to fix homeless epidemic?
April 19, 2018 1:08 PM   Subscribe

What are some good organizations (either governmental, non profit, grassroots, or even religious) that are trying to pressure California legislators to fix our homeless epidemic?

I live in the SF Bay Area. Three of the top ten homelessness-per-capita cities are in California. I have family members who are homeless. I am a low income tenant. Given this, the issue of homelessness weighs heavy on my heart. Although I do some volunteer work based around other justice issues, I’m kind of new to action for the homeless. (So please excuse my cluelessness <3). I’d like to get involved with efforts to pass legislation, or at least follow those who are doing so.

As far as what I have to offer, I have art and design skills, communications skills, I do childcare and homecare, experience in direct action, and familiarity with consensus-based organizing. Any leads or suggestions?
posted by shalom to Law & Government (8 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
SF YIMBY Party has an explicitly pro-housing agenda, which may or may not overlap with anti-homelessness efforts in the short term but is, to me, what we should all be moving toward in the long run.

caveat- I haven't worked with them and don't have any first hand experience other than watching them from afar.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:18 PM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


Yeah, from what I know about self-identified YIMBY folks in SF they can be super callous/not in tune with the needs of residents currently being forced out due to gentrification, low-income renters, etc.

Housing California is an org I know of doing this work state-wide, based out of Sacramento. In San Francisco, I have a close friend who works at the San Francisco Tenants Union -- which could be another good place to plug in, if you're not already!
posted by kylej at 1:41 PM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


...to chime back in quick, another San Francisco org I've heard good things about is the Coalition on Homelessness.
posted by kylej at 1:43 PM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Some of the pro-development people are anti-homeless, but my Google-fu shows that at least the board of directors and staff of the YIMBY org seem pretty conscious and experienced. That said, definitely looking for statewide orgs (or those that lobby statewide or are in coalitions statewide ). K, thanks for the suggestions, please keep them coming!
posted by shalom at 5:38 PM on April 19, 2018


The Western Center on Law and Poverty is excellent. I work with them on related issues. I’m definitely not a fan of the YIMBY approach, however, so if that appeals to you, WCLP may not be what you’re looking for.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:39 PM on April 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


Also the Western Regional Advocacy Project, which has the homeless bill of rights campaign.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:44 PM on April 19, 2018 [2 favorites]


Not statewide, and not the Bay Area, but in Los Angeles: Everyone In and Abundant Housing LA.
posted by caek at 7:11 PM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]


The YIMBY movement's reason for being is not homelessness per se, but I think they're moving the needle in the right direction. They have a CA statewide organization.
posted by caek at 7:17 PM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]


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