The measure, a $6.4 billion bond, is aimed at increasing taxpayer funds for constructing facilities to assist homeless individuals struggling with mental health and addiction issues. Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his enthusiasm for the measure, stating, “This is a huge victory for doing things radically different when it comes to tackling homelessness... repairing the damage caused by decades of broken promises and neglect to those suffering from severe mental illness.”
Initially presumed to pass easily due to strong public support, Proposition 1 faced unexpected opposition following the March 5 election. The Associated Press took 15 days to confirm its narrow approval after tallying mail-in ballots. Consequently, Newsom postponed his state of the state address to highlight the measure's passage.
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Despite passing with just 50.2% of voter support, Proposition 1 saw backing primarily from Democratic strongholds, with less support than expected in other areas. California, ranking fifth in the nation for homeless population rate, has approximately 181,399 homeless individuals, with San Francisco experiencing a surge in homeless camps since the pandemic.
According to Axios, California's homeless population rate stands at 46.5 per 10,000, underscoring the urgency of addressing homelessness in the state.
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