Wilk Responds to Newsom’s Admission of ‘Lack of Performance’ on Homelessness

Today, Governor Newsom admitted his ‘lack of performance’ on homelessness and declared that he is hitting the pause button on upcoming funding. Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) issued the following statement in response: 

“His policies have been a total flop. Republicans call for accountability and results-based legislation, which have fallen on deaf ears for the last two years. So I say, ‘Welcome to the party, governor. I invite you to review our legislative proposals for some meaningful solutions.’” 

Since Governor Newsom has taken office, California’s homeless crisis has spiraled out of control despite spending $20 billion in taxpayer dollars to address it, $14 billion of which was spent over the last two years alone. 

In August, Newsom crisscrossed California boasting that his Project Homekey is a “… groundbreaking success” and “a model for the nation, showing that we can make real progress on ending homelessness in months, not years.”

In less than four months, the governor is doing a complete 180-degree turn, admitting that his homeless policies are a failure and lacked accountability. 

In 2022, legislative Republicans introduced a robust legislative agenda –ACT 

on homelessness, which was a comprehensive legislative package on Accountability, Compassion, and Treatment for homelessness programs. Among the measures included were Senator Wilk’s Senate Bill 1353, which would have added clarity and accountability to California’s efforts to address homelessness.