The Bay Area housing market is out of control. Home prices are soaring, tenants and landlords are hurting, and homelessness is up 18% in Contra Costa County. But while the county runs congregate homeless shelters in Richmond and Concord, East County has been left on its own. These are not easy problems to tackle.

 

But, under my leadership, we’re fighting to prevent families from falling into homelessness, get people housed and off the streets, and stabilize housing costs. In fact, Antioch became the only Bay Area city that invests in housing and homeless services through our new Department of Public Safety and Community Resources.

As your Mayor, we…

(1) Approved $2.3 million to clean up dangerous homeless encampments with dignity.

(2) Invested $4 million to build 122 supportive housing units, including wraparound services.

(3) Transformed the Executive Inn, known for human trafficking, drugs, and crime, into “Opportunity Village”-- a refuge of hope and opportunity with wraparound services for those previously living in dangerous encampments.

(4) Launched the city's first 24/7 non-police Mental Health Response Team pilot program.

(5) Signed new housing displacement laws, including Rent Control, Anti-Tenant Harassment, and Just-Cause Eviction ordinances to prevent children and families from falling into homelessness. 

(6) Continued funding of the down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers. ​

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In my second term, we will…
 

(1) Find permanent funding for Opportunity Village and the Mental Health Crisis Response Team. 

(2) Work with the county to bring a CARE Center to Eastern Contra Costa County to provide an entry point for homeless services locally. 

(3) Build more affordable housing units to ensure we have enough housing for individuals transitioning from homelessness. 

(4) Continue to enforce the city's no-campaign ordinance to ensure pedestrians can use public rights of way, such as sidewalks, trails, and parks.