PRIORITIES

Find solutions that provide affordable housing and restore health and dignity to our unhoused residents.

​

I am committed to supporting our residents who lack reliable housing and shelter by finding workable solutions.

Experience has shown that the reasons for homelessness are complex and that there is no “silver bullet” to end homelessness. Contrary to myth, most of our unsheltered neighbors lived here before they lost their homes. Many are seniors who suffer from chronic illness or disabilities. To find solutions, I worked with other Mayors from across the nation and with specialists at the Kaufmann Foundation to create a series of strategies we called “silver buckshot” that include:

​

• Vineyard 2.0 - This Navigation Center, which broke ground in March of this year,  provides temporary shelter with additional services including food and counseling

• Goodness Village - The City leveraged funds from Alameda County to provide over $1 million for the construction of Goodness Village, starting with the first phase of 28 tiny homes. 

• The City is partnering with other agencies in order to provide wrap-around-services to ensure long-term success as people transition out of homelessness. Partnering with the State of California and Project RoomKey allowed us to protect some of our most vulnerable population. 

​

Recognizing that homelessness is a regional problem, in 2014, I convened the first regional Mayors Summit on Homelessness bringing together over 200 advocates and stakeholders. Having learned from local surveys that over 90% of our veterans without housing were not receiving the benefits to which they were entitled, I participated in the launch of the National Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness at the White House. The City collaborated with Las Positas College to create a resource center for veterans to ensure that they received the benefits that they had earned. 

As a career chemist, I have learned that it is important to follow the data. Yes, homelessness is visible, but in Livermore, the numbers are down. The results of the 2022 Point-in-Time Count demonstrated that the number of people experiencing homelessness in Alameda County had increased over 20%. Due to a coordinated, multi-agency effort, that same count showed that in Livermore, the number of people experiencing homelessness had actually declined.

I appointed Council members Carling and Munro to the City’s Task Force on Homelessness and two police officers were assigned as liaisons to assist those who are experiencing homelessness. Sanitary services are now being provided to protect public health.

Under my leadership, Livermore has been doing all of that and it’s working. The City has helped our residents find permanent housing. There will always be more work to do but the City continues to make demonstrated progress towards those goals.