FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Maggie Merritt at 916-553-4167.
Continued leadership and engagement to ensure landmark legislation for permanent supportive housing funds meet the needs of homeless Californians.
SACRAMENTO – The Steinberg Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of its Executive Director, Maggie Merritt, to the state’s No Place Like Home (NPLH) Advisory Committee. This appointment will allow the Institute to play a direct role in ensuring this important program is implemented as we intended.
The NPLH proposal was launched by the Steinberg Institute and championed by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León. This historic legislation, introduced in 2016, received wide support from a bipartisan group of legislators, Governor Brown and his Administration. Now in the implementation phase, this program will dedicate up to $2 billion in bond proceeds to invest in permanent supportive housing for people who live with a serious mental illness and are experiencing chronic homelessness, or are at-risk of homelessness. As the program is further designed and detailed, Merritt will play a key role in the stakeholder process and have an active voice in creating clear guidelines for counties, developers, and community members.
“I am thrilled that Maggie has been appointed to the No Place Like Home Advisory Committee,” stated Mayor Darrell Steinberg, the Founder of the not-for-profit public policy institute in his name. “We are proud to have championed this issue and I am confident that Maggie will give her all to ensure that this investment is implemented wisely.”
California has the nation’s largest homeless population while also ranking as the sixth largest economy in the world. The 115,000 homeless people in our state make up 22 percent of the nation’s homeless population and approximately 1/3 live with a serious mental illness. The NPLH program is expected to provide 15,00-20,000 permanent supportive housing units and will serve as a catalyst for strategic investments in much needed housing and supports throughout the state.
“This social condition called chronic homelessness does not have to be our reality. We no longer have to be numb and shrug our shoulders and say there is nothing that we can do.” Merritt said. “We know what works and I am looking forward to working together with the other committee members toward ensuring that the most vulnerable among us receive the housing and care they need.”
ABOUT THE STEINBERG INSTITUTE – Founded by Sacramento Mayor and former State Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, the Steinberg Institute is a leading nonprofit public policy institute that supports and encourages effective and comprehensive mental health public policymaking; helps solve disputes between mental health stakeholders; engages business leaders and other non-traditional stakeholders; evaluates the impact of current investments; and implements a bold, best-practices vision to advance mental health services and support and integrated systems of care.
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