August 8, 2024 | Sacramento, CA

Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) hosted a press conference and interim housing pop-up event last week on the steps of the California State Capitol in support of SB 1395, the Interim Housing Act. The bill, authored by Senator Becker, will make it easier for local governments to build dignified, safe interim housing for unhoused individuals and families and set them on a path toward permanent housing. Fellow lawmakers and advocates, including SB 1395 co-authors San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, DignityMoves, and the Bay Area Council, were also on hand to rally support for this critical legislation.

Senator Becker, Mayor Mahan, Senator Blakespear (D-Encinitas), and Assemblymember Hart (D-Santa Barbara) addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of SB 1395 to streamline interim housing as a critical tool in addressing California’s unsheltered homelessness crisis. With over 500 interim housing units already operational in San Jose and 2,000 statewide, the bill seeks to expand these efforts by making it easier for local governments to build additional units quickly and affordably.

Bay Area Council’s VP of Public Policy, Louis Mirante, and DignityMoves’ CEO Elizabeth Funk also gave remarks about how the interim housing model provides a logical solution that benefits all. Watch the press conference in full here: SB 1395 Press Conference

Alanaya Wiley, a Sacramento resident who benefited from interim housing, shared her journey from homelessness to interim housing, which allowed her to regain stability and find permanent housing. 

“The first thing we need to do is pass this bill so that people can get in,” Alanaya said. “They can become productive members of this society based on this program, but the first step is to get indoors.” Her story underscored the urgent need for the passage of SB 1395 to help more individuals like her transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

Following the press conference, which was open to the general public, attendees could tour two interim housing units from BossCubez and Azure Printed Homes. These units, designed for ease of transport and rapid deployment, represent a scalable solution to provide safe, temporary shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness. The units feature amenities such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, electricity, and a lockable door, making them a dignified and safe option for those in need.

With broad support from various stakeholders and after clearing significant legislative hurdles, SB 1395 is poised to move forward for a final vote, with hopes that the governor will soon sign it into law.  

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For more information about SB 1395 – The Interim Housing Act, visit:  https://dignitymoves.org/interim-housing-act/

Watch the full Press Conference here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDAkgmKGUwg