California Adopts Comprehensive Strategy to Prevent Homelessness Before It Starts

SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1924 - statewide legislation poised to address a critical part of California's homelessness epidemic by preventing displacement before it occurs. Authored by Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), the bill directs the state to build California's first comprehensive homelessness prevention strategy, complete with measurable goals, accountability benchmarks, and model best practices that cities and counties can use as guidance.

The numbers behind this bill make the case. Nearly 190,000 Californians are experiencing homelessness, and for every person who exits it, nearly three more fall into homelessness for the first time - a ratio that climbs to 4-to-1 in regions like Los Angeles County. California has invested significant dollars into shelters and housing to catch people after they fall. AB 1924 directs the state to spend that money more efficiently, by keeping people from falling in the first place.

"The best way to reduce homelessness is to stop it before it starts," said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino). "We know that prevention is the most compassionate and effective approach to this crisis, and it's long past time California adopted a statewide prevention strategy. I'm grateful to Governor Newsom for signing AB 1924 into law and helping us pair proven prevention strategies with real accountability."

"California cannot solve homelessness by waiting until someone has already lost their home. We must do more to keep people housed in the first place, especially when timely support can prevent a family from losing everything," said Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton). "AB 1924 gives California a stronger framework to identify what works, coordinate prevention efforts, and measure whether we are reaching the people who need help before they enter homelessness. Thank you, Assemblymember Gabriel, for ensuring California is smarter with our resources and giving families a better chance to remain safely and securely housed."

Proof of Concept Already Exists

Prevention is not a theory. Homelessness prevention programs are already established in Santa Clara County, Sonoma County, and elsewhere throughout the state. Innovative programs like homelessness prevention units, which predict who is most likely to become homeless and intervene before help is sought, demonstrate what the future of prevention could look like. What has been missing is a statewide framework to connect these efforts, measure what works, and scale it statewide.

AB 1924 gives the state a way to connect the dots. This law requires the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to develop a statewide homelessness prevention strategy, including goals and accountability measures. It directs relevant state agencies to build their own homelessness prevention action plans, and requires the state to identify and disseminate evidence-based model practices that local governments and service providers can adopt.

What Experts and Community Leaders Are Saying

"The best way to end homelessness is to stop it before it starts. California is showing compassion and common sense go hand-in-hand by making prevention a strategic priority, moving the state toward the cutting edge of nationwide efforts to solve our homelessness crisis." - Jennifer Loving, CEO of Destination: Home

"It's not only much more humane to keep residents in their homes-it's much less expensive than providing shelter and services once they fall into homelessness. With this bill, prevention becomes a central pillar of California's homeless policy. If we can begin to move the paradigm to preventing homelessness in the first place, we can finally turn the tide on one of our most intractable challenges." - Mike Feuer, Senior Policy Advisor at Inner City Law Center

"Targeted homelessness prevention is a strategy that's proven by practice and research, not just theory. We've watched it keep families housed in the Bay Area and Los Angeles for years, and independent researchers have confirmed the results. Now California has the chance to build a statewide system around what we already know works." - Brett Andrews, Interim CEO of All Home