2020 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Welfare & Poverty
Gavin Newsom:
Homelessness must be at the top of our agenda
The most pernicious crisis in our midst is the ultimate manifestation of poverty: homelessness. It is a disgrace. It is our responsibility, and it must be at the top of our agenda.We are making available 286 state properties--vacant lots,
fairgrounds, armories and other state buildings--to be used by local governments, for free, for homelessness solutions. We have lease templates ready to go--and we're ready for partnership.
When we don't build housing for people at all income levels,
we worsen the homeless crisis. It's a vicious cycle. And the only sustainable way out of it is to massively increase housing production. Let's match our courage on homelessness with courage on housing supply. This means a commitment--right now, this
year--to major reform that will eliminate red tape, and delays for building critically needed housing--like affordable, multifamily homes--especially near transit and downtowns.
Source: 2020 California State of the State address
Feb 19, 2020
Gavin Newsom:
Right to Shelter: work with counties on homelessness
Some have recommended a legal "Right to Shelter." It's a provocative idea which forced the State to explore the limits of what local governments can be compelled to do. But right now, our imperative must be bringing governments together as working
partners, not sparring partners in a court of law. Instead we are proposing strict accountability, comprehensive audits and a "do-it-or-lose-it" policy to hold local governments responsible for results. Take action or lose access to this new funding.
California has and will continue to extend its hand of partnership to Washington, seeking to jointly address this issue. Honestly, this partnership should be a given. But empty words and symbolic gestures won't mask a 15 percent across-the-board cut
to HUD's budget. I'm old enough to remember when HUD was in the housing business. And I'm hopeful it will be again. After all, homelessness isn't a blue or a red issue. It's an everyone issue--a blight on the soul of America.
Source: 2020 California State of the State address
Feb 19, 2020
Bill Lee:
Recruit business to locate in distressed, at-risk counties
I've instructed the Department of Economic and Community Development to raise the stakes when it comes to recruiting industry to rural areas.
I've directed ECD to restructure our incentive package to companies considering locating in our 15 distressed counties and 24 at-risk counties.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Feb 3, 2020
Henry McMaster:
Require able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work
Last year, I issued an executive order requiring able-bodied Medicaid recipients to pursue 80 hours a month of community engagement, education, job training or employment. In December, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved
these requirements. "Welfare-to-Work" is one of the great successes in American public policy over the last 25 years. There is no reason "Medicaid-to-Work" cannot be just as effective. In South Carolina, it will be.
Source: 2020 South Carolina State of the State address
Jan 22, 2020
Janet Mills:
Build nearly 1000 more affordable homes over 8 years
Assistant Majority Leader Ryan Fecteau has proposed a Maine Affordable Housing Tax Credit program, similar to the Maine Historic Tax Credit program which helped boost the economy in recent years.
This proposal would create nearly 1,000 additional affordable homes over eight years, increasing Maine's current rate of production by 50 percent. Send that bill to my desk. I will sign it.
Source: 2020 Maine State of the State address
Jan 21, 2020
Gina Raimondo:
Create dedicated funding stream to build new housing
No one should struggle to keep a roof over their head either, and right now too many working families do. Our housing shortage threatens all of the economic progress we've made.
This year I propose a housing bond and--for the first time ever in Rhode Island--a dedicated funding stream to build more housing. Nearly every other state already has this. Let's do it, and let's get to work building more homes.
Source: 2020 Rhode Island State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Jay Inslee:
Reduce homelessness by half in next two years
Homelessness reaches all ages, all races, all backgrounds. Responding to homelessness can't mean moving people down the road, to someone else's city or to the next bridge. It's about giving them the tools and resources they need to get back on their
feet. It's about prevention, it's about rent assistance and it's about supportive housing for our most vulnerable individuals. Our goal is to reduce by half the number of people living outdoors in the next two years.
Source: 2020 Washington State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Jim Justice:
If we can't find money to fight hunger, then we're not much
We've got too many people all across our state that are hungry. I want absolutely to commit a million dollars to create more food pantries for people that are really out there and hurting.In addition to that, I want to take $2 million and go to the
Department of Education and put that into their Backpack Program. Can you imagine going home on Friday and know you're going to be hungry? If we can't find $2 million to help our kids and help the hungry, then we're not much of us.
Source: 2020 West Virginia State of the State address
Jan 8, 2020
Ralph Northam:
Affordable housing attracts jobs & builds communities
I want us to also work together to make sure that people have a roof over their heads. Affordable housing helps attract jobs and build thriving communities. But this basic necessity is out of reach for too many people, especially in a strong economy.
So I'm proposing to triple the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, which works to increase affordable housing and keep people from experiencing homelessness. We're also proposing a new program to help reduce evictions.
Source: 2020 Virginia State of the State address
Jan 8, 2020
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021
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