Gateway Cities Council of Governments endorses county sales tax to curb homelessness

Gateway Cities Council of Governments endorses county sales tax to curb homelessness

NORWALK – The board of directors of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments voted last week to endorse Los Angeles County Measure H, which would impose a countywide one-quarter cent sales tax to fund programs aimed at preventing and ending homelessness.

Voters will decide the fate of Measure H during a special election on Tuesday, March 7.

For the past five years, the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, which represents 28 cities in southeast Los Angeles County, as well as county unincorporated communities, has operated its own program to combat homelessness through funding received from the county of Los Angeles.

“Our program, Gateway Connections, has already permanently housed over 1,700 formerly homeless individuals”, said Long Beach Councilmember Al Austin, who serves as the president of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments.

“With the passage of Measure H, over $350 million a year would become available to fund our program and others throughout the county, which would have a huge impact on reducing the estimated 47,000 people currently homeless in the county”, said Austin.