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Gov. Gavin Newsom announces advisers on combating homelessness

The group will meet across the state to assist local governments in crafting their regional strategies to prevent homelessness.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom is moving forward with plans to combat homelessness in California.

He announced the names of the regional leaders and statewide experts who will advise his administration on developing solutions to address the state's homelessness epidemic.

  • Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento mayor
  • Mark Ridley, Los Angeles County supervisor
  • Libby Schaaf, Oakland mayor
  • Esmeralda Soria, Fresno City councilmember
  • Nathan Fletcher, San Diego County supervisor
  • V. Manuel Perez, Riverside County supervisor
  • Sofia Pereira, Arcata City councilmember
  • Frank Mecca, executive director for the County Welfare Directors Association
  • Sharon Rapport, associate director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing
  • Anya Lawler, policy advocate for the Western Center on Law and Poverty
  • Michelle Cabrera, executive director for the County Behavioral Health Directors Association
  • Phillip Mangano, former director of theU.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
  • Will Lightbourne, former director of the Department of Social Services

The group will meet across the state to assist local governments in crafting their regional strategies to deal with homelessness. They will focus on preventing homelessness and early intervention.

READ ALSO: California budget includes $5M for animal care for homeless people's pets

“This is a crisis that affects all of California – from rural and urban communities to coastal and inland cities," Newsom said. "We need to work collectively to source local solutions from mayors, county supervisors and city councils and implement those solutions at scale statewide.”

Newsom will also appoint other regional leaders, service providers, formerly homeless people and academics to work with his advisers.

The advisors will hold their first meeting next month in the Central Valley.

WATCH ALSO: Unsheltered Life: Homeless in Sacramento | Part I

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