A letter on SB 802 from Joseph Smith, CoC Board Chair.
Twelve years ago, I was sleeping outside in Sacramento, trying to survive another night. Today I serve as Chair of the Sacramento Continuum of Care, the federally recognized body coordinating our region’s homelessness response. I know what it means to be without housing. I also know how important it is to have systems in place that work for real people, in real time.
That is why I feel compelled to speak out against SB 802.
The bill proposes to dismantle the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) and create a new entity called the Sacramento Area Housing and Homelessness Agency. During her press conference, Senator Angelique Ashby asked, “What is the worst that could happen?” when referring to this major change.
Let me answer that. We could lose vital federal funding, destabilize essential programs, and undo years of hard-earned progress made by people who have been working quietly and persistently to make things better.
I have been part of that work. Leaders from the City and County of Sacramento, SHRA, and dozens of community-based organizations have been part of it too. While not perfect, the progress has been substantial and rooted in real collaboration. In the last two years, we have increased shelter capacity, opened new supportive housing, expanded outreach, and built a coordinated system that connects people to services more quickly and effectively.
The most recent Point-in-Time Count showed the first decrease in homelessness in Sacramento County since 2015. We saw fewer people living unsheltered and more individuals moved into permanent housing. This shift did not occur by accident. It is the result of consistent, focused collaboration and investment by local governments, providers, and community partners. That kind of progress does not come easily and it should never be put at risk.
In the last year alone, over 700 new affordable housing units have come online, and another 1,200 are under construction and expected to open within the next 18 months. These are not just numbers. They are homes for families, individuals recovering from trauma or addiction, and seniors living on fixed incomes. They represent lives that were improved because we chose to work together.
The Continuum of Care is not just a local name. It is a federally regulated system. Under HUD rules, you cannot pass a state law and change how the CoC is governed. Any change requires HUD review and approval. If we get this wrong, we could lose tens of millions in housing funds. That is not political fearmongering. That is how federal law works.