State to withhold $1 billion in funding in effort to spur more aggressive efforts to reduce homelessness

California will withhold $1 billion in funding until the state’s local governments develop new plans to reduce homelessness, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday.

Newsom said he plans to meet with local officials across the state later this month to review the state’s approach to reducing homelessness and determine if new strategies are necessary, but until then the state will withhold funding from the Homelessness, Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant program.