As state budget negotiations start to warm up, Senate Democrats have proposed a 2-billion dollar bond to build homes for homeless people with mental illnesses. It would not have to go on the ballot at this time. Senate President Kevin de Leon says the money could fund construction of at least 10-thousand units. Locally, Nevada City architect Chuck Durrett is part of a group proposing what he calls “Opportunity Village” on vacant county property….

click to listen to Chuck Durrett

Durrett has appeared at County Supervisors meetings in the past about the issue and has asked to be formally agendized at a meeting in the next couple of months…

click to listen to Chuck Durrett

So Durett calls the bond “very timely”. The bond will also push for 200-million dollars in general fund revenue over four years to pay for rent subsidies for homeless people and will also seek to increase the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment grants that help low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Nearly 30-thousand chronically homeless people live in California, which is more than one-third of the national total.