California is implementing its first statewide homelessness prevention strategy, modeled on the successful program developed in Santa Clara County. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1924, mandating the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to create a blueprint for measurable prevention goals and an action plan by July 1, 2028. The law also tasks the council with identifying highly effective local efforts and recommending future funding, though it does not include direct funding for prevention programs due to current budgetary constraints.
Advocates emphasize the importance of this shift. Michael Feuer, senior policy advisor at the nonprofit Inner City Law Center and a co-sponsor of AB 1924, noted that "It’s also much less expensive to prevent someone from falling into homelessness than having to serve that person once they become homeless.” This perspective is underscored by current trends: nearly 190,000 Californians experience homelessness for the first time each year. In Santa Clara County, where homelessness reached over 10,700 people last year, nearly 60% of homeless residents surveyed in 2025 reported being homeless for the first time. The county currently sees nearly two people become homeless for every one person housed, while statewide, three people become homeless for every one housed.
The idea for a comprehensive prevention approach began incubating in Santa Clara County in 2017 as homelessness numbers grew. The nonprofit Destination: Home spearheaded a program offering rental assistance, case management, and legal support to families facing eviction, initially with private funding. In 2024, Santa Clara County officially adopted this program, scaling its homelessness prevention strategy countywide.
Chelsea Muller, spokesperson for Destination: Home, stated that the statewide strategy "will build on our community’s successful prevention model." She highlighted the local model's effectiveness, which researchers and local outcomes have proven, through four key components: a shared assessment tool, rapid response, flexible funding, and embedded case management.
Since its inception, the Santa Clara County program has helped approximately 44,000 residents avoid living on the streets. Data from the University of Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, based on a randomized control trial, found that 90% of residents who received this assistance remained housed two years later. County officials report that the program helps more than 2,600 families remain housed annually. Kathryn Kaminski, director of the county Office of Supportive Housing, expressed satisfaction with the state's move, noting that the program "has emerged as a national model, and efforts to replicate and scale (it) are underway in 10 communities across the United States through an initiative called Right at Home USA."
Destination: Home is leading this national program, partnering with organizations in diverse locations, including Minnesota, Alaska, Georgia, and North Carolina. This initiative aims to provide at least $5 million to each participating community, serving 1,500 households over five years, with a goal of helping more than 10,000 families achieve stable housing. Advocates believe California’s adoption of a statewide strategy could encourage other states to follow, positioning California at the forefront of national efforts in homelessness prevention.
