States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
Wire Manufacturer Plans $176 Million Expansion in Cleburne County
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Nov. 26 -- The Alabama Department of Commerce posted the following news on Nov. 25, 2025:
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Wire manufacturer plans $176 million expansion in Cleburne County
HEFLIN, Alabama - Wire and cable manufacturer Southwire is launching a $176 million expansion at its plant in Cleburne County, a move that highlights the successful business partnerships in rural Alabama that are fueling prosperity in communities across the state.
The project, which will enhance medium voltage cable production and further modernize operations, is expected to create more than 85 jobs and add about
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MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Nov. 26 -- The Alabama Department of Commerce posted the following news on Nov. 25, 2025:
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Wire manufacturer plans $176 million expansion in Cleburne County
HEFLIN, Alabama - Wire and cable manufacturer Southwire is launching a $176 million expansion at its plant in Cleburne County, a move that highlights the successful business partnerships in rural Alabama that are fueling prosperity in communities across the state.
The project, which will enhance medium voltage cable production and further modernize operations, is expected to create more than 85 jobs and add about340,000 square feet of space at the company's site in Heflin.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Southwire's continued growth in Heflin is proof that great things are happening in rural Alabama.
"This expansion represents not only a significant investment in Cleburne County, but also in the hardworking men and women who call this community home," the governor said. "With projects like this one, we're showing that rural Alabama is full of opportunity - and that companies like Southwire can find long-term success right here in our state."
Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the expansion underscores the strength of the partnership between the state and Southwire.
"This project will create high-quality jobs and provide a major economic boost to Cleburne County. It's another example of how strategic economic development efforts continue to deliver meaningful results for communities across Alabama," McNair said.
This is Southwire's fourth expansion at the Heflin plant, which opened in 1996 as Forte Power Systems. Construction is expected to begin late this year, with equipment and capacity coming online in late 2027.
Southwire President and CEO Rich Stinson said the company is poised to address increased demand for electricity.
"The re-electrification of America will bring unprecedented opportunity for the electrical industry, and we stand ready to meet the needs that lie ahead for the markets we serve," Stinson said. "We continue to purposely invest in modernization - across our facilities, equipment, systems, technologies and more - allowing us to best serve our customers and help power a more sustainable future."
Southwire has committed more than $1.8 billion to modernization efforts across its footprint, which includes 9,000 employees at sites worldwide. The company is one of North America'sleading wire and cable manufactures, providing electrical products to power homes, businesses and infrastructure.
The upgrades in Heflin will feature energy-efficient systems, sustainability enhancements and improved work environments, including climate-controlled areas and rainwater collection systems for responsible use of resources.
Local leaders said they are excited about the project and what it means for the community.
Cleburne County Commission Chairman Lane Kilgore called the expansion "a powerful endorsement of the hardworking people of Cleburne County."
Heflin Mayor Robby Brown said the project builds on the longtime, prosperous relationship between Southwire and the community.
Tanya Maloney, director of the Cleburne County Department of Economic Development, said collaboration played a key role.
"This project exemplifies what's possible when business and government work together to support sustainable industry growth," she said. "Southwire has been a cornerstone of our economy for years, and this new investment ensures that legacy continues well into the future."
"Southwire's plans in Cleburne County show that rural Alabama is home to industry-leading innovation," said Brenda Tuck, rural development manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce.
"The future is bright in rural communities across the state, with advanced technologies, a dedicated workforce, and community leaders who stand ready to help companies achieve their goals," Tuck said.
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Original text here: https://www.madeinalabama.com/2025/11/wire-manufacturer-plans-176-million-expansion-in-cleburne-county/
R.I. A.G. Neronha Co-leads Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration for Upending Support for Homeless Americans
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Nov. 26 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued the following news release on Nov. 24, 2025:
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Attorney General Neronha co-leads lawsuit against the Trump Administration for upending support for homeless Americans
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today co-led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit in the federal District of Rhode Island against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for illegally upending supports for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness with abrupt
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PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Nov. 26 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued the following news release on Nov. 24, 2025:
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Attorney General Neronha co-leads lawsuit against the Trump Administration for upending support for homeless Americans
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today co-led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit in the federal District of Rhode Island against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for illegally upending supports for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness with abruptchanges that will limit access to long-term housing and other services.
HUD is drastically changing its Continuum of Care grant program in violation of congressional intent by dramatically reducing the amount of grant funds that can be spent on permanent housing and project renewals and putting new unlawful conditions on access to the funding. These requirements include that providers only recognize two genders, mandate residents accept services as a precondition to obtain housing, and punish providers in localities that do not enforce strict anti-homeless laws, all barriers that are in contrast to HUD's previous guidance and Congress' approval.
"This Administration continues to punch down by targeting the most vulnerable Americans, and unfortunately this most recent attack on homeless individuals is consistent with their modus operandi," said Attorney General Neronha. "The President and his Administration don't care about making life easier or better for Americans; they only care about political capitulation, consolidating power, and further enriching the wealthy. If allowed, these cuts and conditions would further exacerbate already dire conditions for homeless Rhode Islanders. We will succeed here, as we have nearly every time in the last 10 months, because we are right on the law. And we will continue to fight for all Americans, especially those who can't fight for themselves."
Previous changes to the grant conditions have been incremental to not disrupt providers' ability to provide housing and to budget for their programs well in advance. These wholesale changes will create administrative chaos and likely result in thousands losing housing.
For decades, HUD has helped local and regional coalitions plan and coordinate housing and services for people experiencing homelessness through Continuum of Care grants, which were created by Congress. Providers pair these grants with other funding sources and rely on the predictability and continuity of the grants to support the unhoused.
HUD has a longstanding policy of encouraging what is known as a "Housing First" model that provides stable housing to individuals without preconditions like sobriety or a minimum personal income. These policies have been proven to improve housing stability and public health while reducing the costs of homelessness to individuals and their communities.
Rhode Island relies on Continuum of Care as a principal source of federal funding for its homelessness programs. Administered through RIHousing, Rhode Island's Continuum of Care grant currently supports permanent housing for at least 273 people in 216 households annually. Overall, 84% of Rhode Island's $17.3 million in Continuum of Care funding is for permanent housing projects, including RIHousing's FY24 contract for $4,964,705. The new cap of 30% would reduce the available amount for the entire state of Rhode Island. This reduction would derail long-term efforts to reduce homelessness and increase burdens on other health, safety, and support services.
Previously, HUD has directed approximately 90% of Continuum of Care funding to support permanent housing, but the agency's new rule - which Congress never authorized - would cut that by two-thirds for grants starting in 2026. Similarly, HUD has long allowed grantees to protect around 90% of funding year to year - essentially guaranteeing renewal of projects to ensure that individuals and families living in those projects maintain stable housing. But HUD has slashed this figure, too, to only 30%. These new policies virtually guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless people in permanent housing nationwide will eventually be evicted through no fault of their own when the funds aren't renewed.
Additionally, HUD is planning to withhold funds to applicants that acknowledge the existence of trans and gender-diverse people, de-prioritize services to people with mental health issues or substance-use disorder, and discriminate against localities whose approach to homelessness differs from the administration's.
The complaint alleges HUD violated its own regulations by not engaging in rulemaking before issuing the changes and violated the law by not receiving congressional authorization for these new conditions, many of which are directly contrary to congressionally passed statutes and HUD's own regulations. The plaintiffs also argue that HUD's actions are arbitrary and capricious several times over, as HUD has not explained the abandonment of their own longstanding policies or consider the consequences of tens of thousands of vulnerable people being suddenly evicted. The agency explicitly encouraged grantees to implement Housing First policies and to focus on the particular needs of LGBTQ+ individuals as recently as last year.
The complaint is led by Attorney General Neronha, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, and is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Original text here: https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-co-leads-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-upending
Pa. Community & Economic Development Dept.: Shapiro Administration Invests More Than $900,000 to Help Communities Work Together to Share Resources and Support Their Residents
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 26 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development issued the following news on Nov. 25, 2025:
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Shapiro Administration Invests More Than $900,000 to Help Communities Work Together to Share Resources and Support Their Residents
This Municipal Assistance Program funding will support 18 projects across 14 counties.
Since taking office in 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro has focused on making strategic investments that strengthen Pennsylvania communities -- his 2025-26 state budget secured $2 million for the Municipal Assistance Program to continue
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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 26 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development issued the following news on Nov. 25, 2025:
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Shapiro Administration Invests More Than $900,000 to Help Communities Work Together to Share Resources and Support Their Residents
This Municipal Assistance Program funding will support 18 projects across 14 counties.
Since taking office in 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro has focused on making strategic investments that strengthen Pennsylvania communities -- his 2025-26 state budget secured $2 million for the Municipal Assistance Program to continuesupporting efforts by local governments to work together to grow and improve their communities.
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Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced the Shapiro Administration is investing $904,489.92 in grants to support 14 counties with 18 planning and emergency services improvement projects through the Municipal Assistance Program. The projects include the creation of a comprehensive plan to support Cumberland County's population growth, an assessment to identify affordable housing solutions in Erie County, and support to provide police service to multiple townships in Lebanon County.
Administered by DCED, the Municipal Assistance Program supports a range of planning and implementation efforts by local governments including shared-service activities such as regionalization, consolidation or merging of services, shared personnel, high-impact projects that serve multiple municipalities, and boundary change efforts.
"Governor Shapiro understands that Pennsylvania's neighborhoods and municipalities form the building blocks of our Commonwealth, which is why we are laser focused on making investments that strengthen our communities, improve quality of life for Pennsylvanians, and create thriving economies," said Secretary Siger. "The Municipal Assistance Program is an important tool that helps local governments collaborate to identify and implement solutions that address the needs of their residents. The funding that this program provides to municipalities will help them be successful for years to come."
The 18 projects, spread across 14 counties, will receive a total of $904,489,92 in Municipal Assistance Program funding. The full list of approved projects can be found online.
Some of the approved projects include:
* Allegheny County - $50,000 to Tri-COG Land Bank for the Pennsylvania Land Bank Network (PALBN) to deliver essential tools and resources to landbanks throughout the Commonwealth to help prevent blight and revitalize communities. PALBN seeks to develop a landbank data snapshot, online resource hub, training program, finance and funding models, and a written plan for its organizational structure.
* Erie County - $71,111.50 to Erie County for updates to the Erie County Comprehensive Housing Plan which will address a critical gap in strategic housing planning. The goal is to complete a housing needs assessment to identify potential solutions including increased affordable housing availability, rehabilitation of aging properties, and improving homeownership opportunities.
* Lebanon County - $33,728.42 to Lebanon County for the newly-formed Lebanon County Regional Police Department to provide police service to North Cornwall, North Lebanon, and West Lebanon townships. Funding will assist with startup costs for rebranding items like uniforms, vehicles, and badges, as well as a new computer system and new equipment.
* Lehigh County - $74,700 to Whitehall Township to update the township's twenty-year-old comprehensive plan, addressing future growth and development in response to the area's evolving landscape. Recommendations from the plan will inform consistent land use and business development decision-making, as well as provide positive returns on investment for taxpayers.
* Luzerne County - $90,000 to the Lower South Valley Council of Governments for the City of Nanticoke, Borough of Ashley, Borough of Plymouth, Borough of Sugar Notch, Township of Hanover, Township of Newport, Township of Plymouth, Earth Conservancy, Luzerne County Community College, and the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority (WVSA) to continue working together to both identity and address issues that require regional collaboration.
Governor Josh Shapiro's 2025-26 state budget continues his commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities. The budget includes $2 million for the Municipal Assistance Program as well as $20 million for the Main Street Matters program to continue strengthening commercial corridors that are the heart of Pennsylvania communities and supporting revitalization in towns and cities across the Commonwealth.
During his first year in office, Governor Shapiro secured a $1.5 million increase -- nearly 266 percent -- in Municipal Assistance Program funding to help local governments plan for and effectively implement a variety of services, improvements, and soundly managed development. The Governor also secured $2 million for the program in the 2024-25 state budget.
For more information about the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit the DCED website.
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Original text here: https://dced.pa.gov/newsroom/shapiro-administration-invests-more-than-900000-to-help-communities-work-together-to-share-resources-and-support-their-residents/
Mo. A.G. Hanaway Leads Multistate Effort To Rein In Judicial Overreach In Texas Redistricting Case
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Nov. 26 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:
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Attorney General Hanaway Leads Multistate Effort To Rein In Judicial Overreach In Texas Redistricting Case
Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that Missouri has filed an amicus brief, leading twenty-one states, in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to block a federal district court's ruling that threw out Texas's congressional map and handed five seats to the plaintiffs' preferred political party. The brief explains that the lower court
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Nov. 26 -- Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:
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Attorney General Hanaway Leads Multistate Effort To Rein In Judicial Overreach In Texas Redistricting Case
Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that Missouri has filed an amicus brief, leading twenty-one states, in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to block a federal district court's ruling that threw out Texas's congressional map and handed five seats to the plaintiffs' preferred political party. The brief explains that the lower courtignored clear Supreme Court rules and inserted itself into a political battle that belongs to elected state lawmakers, not unelected federal judges.
"Redistricting is a duty entrusted to the people's elected representatives," said Attorney General Hanaway. "The district court in Texas cast aside that principle and gave partisan litigants a victory they could not earn through the democratic process. Missouri is standing with Texas because federal courts cannot be used to override the will of state legislatures."
Missouri's filing centers on a straightforward point: the district court refused to follow the Supreme Court's 2024 decision in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, which requires anyone accusing a State of racial gerrymandering to offer an alternative map showing the state could draw districts differently without changing its political goals. This safeguard prevents political groups from disguising ordinary partisan disagreements as racial discrimination claims.
But the plaintiffs in Texas did not submit any alternative map, despite their own expert testifying she could generate "a million maps in a matter of seconds." Instead, they asked the Court to reinstate an old map that just so happened to give their political party five more congressional seats.
Missouri also noted that if courts can ignore Alexander whenever they want, national activist groups will be emboldened to use racial gerrymandering claims as a political weapon anywhere in the country. That concern mirrors Missouri's own recent litigation, where out-of-state groups attempted to overturn Missouri's new congressional map through an unlawful referendum effort. The Attorney General's Office has repeatedly argued that congressional redistricting belongs to the legislature and that letting out-of-state activist groups disrupt the process would create chaos and damage public trust.
"Just as Missouri is defending our own map from outside interference, we are standing with Texas to protect the constitutional line between courts and legislatures," concluded Attorney General Hanaway. "If an unelected judge can throw out a state's map without following Supreme Court precedent, no State's elections are safe."
Missouri is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to immediately stay the lower court's order so that Texas, not a federal judge, controls its 2026 congressional map.
Missouri is joined in this amicus by attorneys general from the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia.
The full amicus brief can be read here (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&id=6173b2fc92&e=fe147aceeb__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!Cr2pzd5NUEn4O4X24QgzIx1yDooSyHSVFP9afOney-u2pgPHIxIuVeZLc-liL7ADAo9Dvf3VNtK9ll_E5teO4sB9zw$).
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Original text here: https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-hanaway-leads-multistate-effort-to-rein-in-judicial-overreach-in-texas-redistricting-case/
IDPH Releases Latest Maternal Mortality Data Report
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Nov. 26 (TNSrpt) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health issued the following news on Nov. 25, 2025:
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IDPH Releases Latest Maternal Mortality Data Report
Data from 2021-22 shows ongoing need for emphasis on birth equity efforts
Key Points for Media:
* Report finds 91% of pregnancy-related deaths were potentially preventable
* Black women were more than twice as likely to die from any pregnancy-related condition and three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions than white women
* Report reinforces the importance of Gov. Pritzker's Birth
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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Nov. 26 (TNSrpt) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health issued the following news on Nov. 25, 2025:
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IDPH Releases Latest Maternal Mortality Data Report
Data from 2021-22 shows ongoing need for emphasis on birth equity efforts
Key Points for Media:
* Report finds 91% of pregnancy-related deaths were potentially preventable
* Black women were more than twice as likely to die from any pregnancy-related condition and three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions than white women
* Report reinforces the importance of Gov. Pritzker's BirthEquity Blueprint
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The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released its latest Illinois Maternal Mortality Data Report, analyzing data regarding deaths that occurred during pregnancy or within one year of pregnancy from 2021- 2022. IDPH convenes two Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) to identify causes of death and determine whether a death was pregnancy-related. The committees also assess preventability, identify contributing factors, and develop recommendations to prevent future deaths. The report reaffirms the importance of Governor JB Pritzker's Birth Equity Blueprint and the state's efforts to address pregnancy-related deaths and inequitable birth outcomes.
Main findings showed during 2021-2022, an average of 110 women in Illinois died each year during pregnancy or within one year after pregnancy, with slightly more deaths in 2021 than in 2022. About half of these pregnancy-associated deaths (43%) were determined to be pregnancy-related. Overall, pregnancy-related mortality increased during this period compared with previous reporting cycles and MMRCs determined that 91% of pregnancy-related deaths during this period were potentially preventable.
Racial disparities remained stark. Black women were more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related conditions and three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical complications compared with White women. Geographic patterns also persisted, with Chicago and other urban counties experiencing the highest pregnancy-related mortality. Substance use disorder was the leading cause of pregnancy-related death, followed by thrombotic embolism, COVID-19, and hemorrhage. Timing of deaths revealed additional prevention opportunities, as about one-third of pregnancy-related deaths occurred more than 60 days postpartum.
The report outlines key recommendations to prevent future pregnancy-related deaths, targeting action across providers, hospitals, state systems, community-based organizations, and payers. Recommendations are organized across the Birth Equity Blueprint goals of optimizing access to health care, improved quality of services, better coordination across systems, and data-driven surveillance and solutions.
"Behind every data point in this report is a life lost, and far too often, it's a Black woman or someone living in an underserved community," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "These disparities are unacceptable and as the data show, largely preventable. The Governor's Birth Equity Blueprint and the investments being made are designed to address these disparities, ensuring that our next steps include coordinated action, shared accountability, and deep community partnership. We are working to build an Illinois where everyone has a safe and healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience."
Addressing health inequities has been a primary focus of IDPH and of the Pritzker Administration. Earlier this year, Gov. Pritzker unveiled his Birth Equity Blueprint, a roadmap to improve maternal care and birth outcomes in Illinois. The blueprint represents a multi-agency initiative across the Governor's Office, Lieutenant Governor's Office, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and more. The blueprint also identifies systemic inequities in maternal healthcare and birth outcomes due to systemic racism and geographic inequalities and provides four strategic goals:
* Expand Investments in Health Quality and Provider Support
* Promote Access to Birthing and Specialty Care Services
* Establish Universal Risk Assessment, Referral, and Care Coordination Framework
* Develop Shared Measurement and Accountability Framework for Maternal Health and Birth Equity
The Blueprint builds on the Governor's Birth Equity Initiative, which has led to millions of dollars of investment in maternal and infant health, including:
* 12 million in child tax credits
* $5 million to expand home visits
* $1 million in a diaper pilot program for new parents
* $1 million for the Chicago South Side Birth Center
* $4.5 million in birth equity seed grants which have helped fund the following:
- 186 doulas trained across two quarters of implementation, significantly expanding access to culturally competent perinatal support
- 79 lactation consultants trained, enhancing breastfeeding support capacity across communities
- 110,647 individuals reached through education and outreach services
- 7,158 individuals referred to critical maternal and reproductive health services
Strategic planning efforts guided by the Blueprint recently launched at the third Illinois Maternal Health Summit in Bloomington, Illinois. More than 200 maternal health providers, advocates, community-based organizations, researchers, state leaders, and other partners convened to begin shaping coordinated strategies for the year ahead. During the Summit, participants examined current challenges, shared perspectives from their respective communities and systems, and collaborated in breakout sessions focused on each of the four Blueprint goals. This gathering marked an important step in aligning statewide efforts, strengthening partnerships, and building a shared roadmap to improve maternal health outcomes across Illinois.
You can view the full 2021-22 Maternal Mortality Data Report here. You can also get more information on the IDPH website at Maternal Health.
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REPORT: https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/publications/idph/topics-and-services/life-stages-populations/maternal-child-family-health-services/maternal-health/maternal-mortality-data-report-2025.pdf
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Original text here: https://dph.illinois.gov/resource-center/news/2025/november/release-20251125.html
During National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, Calif. Gov. Newsom Provides Local Funding to Help Strengthen Housing Access for Foster Youth
SACRAMENTO, California, Nov. 26 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:
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During National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, Governor Newsom provides local funding to help strengthen housing access for foster youth
What you need to know: Following his challenge to the Trump administration's unlawful cuts to homelessness funding, Governor Newsom is advancing California's comprehensive strategy to support local communities and help address homelessness, and today is announcing $56 million in grants to help counties provide services for young
... Show Full Article
SACRAMENTO, California, Nov. 26 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release on Nov. 25, 2025:
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During National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, Governor Newsom provides local funding to help strengthen housing access for foster youth
What you need to know: Following his challenge to the Trump administration's unlawful cuts to homelessness funding, Governor Newsom is advancing California's comprehensive strategy to support local communities and help address homelessness, and today is announcing $56 million in grants to help counties provide services for youngadults at risk of homelessness.
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Governor Gavin Newsom today announced $56 million in grant awards to 54 counties to help ensure that vulnerable young adults leaving foster care can maintain access to safe and secure housing - continuing California's progress in reducing homelessness and providing strong support for local communities. This builds on California's efforts to help local communities reduce the number of young adults experiencing homelessness, which has dropped by almost 25% statewide since 2020.
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Young adults deserve to feel supported and guided, especially during their transition into adulthood. This funding will continue to bridge accessible housing resources in our communities and will ensure that our youth don't have to decide between their education, paying rent, or putting food on the table - we will not leave our youth behind.
- Governor Gavin Newsom
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As the Trump administration pulls housing and services out from under American families, California is standing up for Californians by filing a suit challenging the HUD's cuts to vital funding. Today, the state also announced its continued work to fill the gap and provide crucial resources for at-risk youth exiting the foster care and probation systems to prevent them from experiencing homelessness. The funds managed by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will provide direct aid to counties and provide local resources and services for youth transitioning out of foster care or probation systems in California.
"These state grants help give vulnerable young adults -- many without family support systems -- access to stability and opportunity that can change the trajectory of their lives," said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. "In partnership with counties, we are ensuring youth leaving foster care or the probation system have the resources to achieve and retain stable housing."
Keeping vulnerable youth off the streets
Since 2020, California has funded three Transitional Age Youth (TAY) programs through HCD to help counties provide housing and supportive services to keep vulnerable youth off the streets and on a path to success.
In 2024, through programs such as this and other state strategies, California's young adults (ages 18-24) experiencing homelessness went down for those experiencing homelessness who received services were less likely than the overall population to return to homelessness, indicating more young people who exit the foster care and probation systems are maintaining housing stability. Since 2020, California's young adult homeless population dropped by nearly 25%, from 11,403 to 8,569 in 2024.
"Through HCD's Transitional Age Youth programs, the Newsom Administration provides counties yet another resource to support local solutions to homelessness," said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. "With the critical services TAY funds, Californians who have already faced many challenges in their young lives can find stability that puts them on a path to a brighter future."
The $56 million in HCD's TAY awards announced today were allocated to counties based on need as demonstrated by each county's percentage of the statewide total of young adults who are currently or formerly in the foster care or probation systems. The awards include:
* Transitional Housing Program (THP), which helps county child welfare agencies identify and assist with housing resources and improve service coordination.
* Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP), which provides counties funding to train child welfare agency social workers and probation officers working with non-minor dependents as housing navigators with a broad understanding of available housing resources.
* Transitional Housing Plus Housing Supplement Program (THP-SUP), which allocates grants to help young adults who have exited foster care on or after their 18th birthday in counties with the state's highest market-rate apartment rental costs.
Since the program's inception under Governor Gavin Newsom, HCD's TAY programs have provided services and stable housing to 15,972 young adults. The youth served indicated they were experiencing homelessness at program entry, or currently in foster care or the state's probation system, or that they identify as LGBTQIA+. Youth benefiting from these funds have received housing support, wrap-around case management, financial literacy assistance, education and employment program support, and financial assistance.
An approach that works
From the very first moments of the Newsom administration, the national crisis of housing and homelessness - which were decades in the making - has been addressed with ingenuity, seriousness, and expertise. No other state has devoted as much time and attention to these twin problems - and California is a leader in producing positive results. Governor Newsom is creating a structural and foundational model for America:
* Addressing mental health and its impact on homelessness -- Ending a long-standing 7,000 behavioral health bed shortfall in California by rapidly expanding community treatment centers and permanent supportive housing units. In 2024, voters approved Governor Newsom's Proposition 1 which is transforming California's mental health systems with a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for treatment settings and housing with services for veterans and people experiencing homelessness, and reforming the Behavioral Health Services Act to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, provide care to people with substance disorders, and support their housing needs.
* Creating new pathways for those who need the most help -- Updating conservatorship laws for the first time in 50 years to include people who are unable to provide for their personal safety or necessary medical care, in addition to food, clothing, or shelter, due to either severe substance use disorder or serious mental health illness. Creating a new CARE court system that creates court-ordered plans for up to 24 months for people struggling with untreated mental illness, and often substance use challenges.
* Streamlining and prioritizing building of new housing -- Governor Newsom made creating more housing a state priority for the first time in history. He has signed into law groundbreaking reforms to break down systemic barriers that have stood in the way of building the housing Californians need, including broad CEQA reforms.
* Creating shelter and support -- Providing funding and programs for local governments, coupled with strong accountability measures to ensure that each local government is doing its share to build housing, and create shelter and support, so that people living in encampments have a safe place to go.
* Removing dangerous encampments -- Governor Newsom has set a strong expectation for all local governments to address encampments in their communities and help connect people with support. In 2024, Governor Newsom filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court defending communities' authority to clear encampments. After the Supreme Court affirmed local authority, Governor Newsom issued an executive order directing state entities and urging local governments to clear encampments and connect people with support, using a state-tested model that helps ensure encampments are addressed humanely and people are given adequate notice and support.
Reversing a decades-in-the-making crisis
The Newsom administration is making significant progress in reversing decades of inaction on homelessness. Between 2014 and 2019--before Governor Newsom took office--unsheltered homelessness in California rose by approximately 37,000 people. Since then, under this Administration, California has significantly slowed that growth, even as many other states have seen worsening trends.
In 2024, while homelessness increased nationally by over 18%, California limited its overall increase to just 3% -- a lower rate than in 40 other states. The state also held the growth of unsheltered homelessness to just 0.45%, compared to a national increase of nearly 7%. States like Florida, Texas, New York, and Illinois saw larger increases both in percentage and absolute numbers. California also achieved the nation's largest reduction in veteran homelessness and made meaningful progress in reducing youth homelessness.---
Original text here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/11/25/during-national-youth-homelessness-awareness-month-governor-newsom-provides-local-funding-to-help-strengthen-housing-access-for-foster-youth/
Ariz. A.G. Sues Over HUD Policy That Would Push More Arizonans Into Homelessness
PHOENIX, Arizona, Nov. 26 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Sues Over HUD Policy that Would Push More Arizonans Into Homelessness
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is illegally upending support for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity with abrupt changes that will limit access to long-term housing and other services, according to a lawsuit filed today by Mayes and a coalition of 20 other plaintiffs.
HUD is drastically changing its Continuum of Care grant program
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Nov. 26 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Sues Over HUD Policy that Would Push More Arizonans Into Homelessness
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is illegally upending support for tens of thousands of Americans experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity with abrupt changes that will limit access to long-term housing and other services, according to a lawsuit filed today by Mayes and a coalition of 20 other plaintiffs.
HUD is drastically changing its Continuum of Care grant programin violation of congressional intent by dramatically reducing the amount of grant funds that can be spent on permanent housing and project renewals and putting new unlawful conditions on access to funding. These requirements include that providers mandate residents accept services as a precondition to obtain housing, and punish providers in localities that do not enforce strict anti-homelessness laws, all barriers that are in contrast to HUD's previous guidance and Congress' approval.
Previous changes to the grant conditions have been incremental to not disrupt providers' ability to provide housing and to budget for their programs well in advance. These wholesale changes will create administrative chaos and likely result in thousands losing housing.
"More and more Arizonans are being pushed into homelessness in Donald Trump's unaffordable economy," said Attorney General Mayes. "These unlawful drastic changes to long-standing HUD policies passed by Congress will push even more into homelessness, straining our local resources and making it harder for providers to serve some of the most vulnerable people in our state."
For decades, HUD has helped local and regional coalitions plan and coordinate housing and services for people experiencing homelessness through Continuum of Care grants, which were created by Congress. Providers pair these grants with other funding sources and rely on the predictability and continuity of the grants to support the unhoused.
HUD has a longstanding policy of encouraging what is known as a "Housing First" model that provides stable housing to individuals without preconditions like sobriety or a minimum personal income. These policies are proven to improve housing stability and public health while reducing the costs of homelessness to individuals and their communities.
Previously, HUD has directed approximately 90% of Continuum of Care funding to support permanent housing, but the agency's new rule - which Congress never authorized - would cut that by two-thirds for grants starting in 2026. Similarly, HUD has long allowed grantees to protect around 90% of funding year to year - essentially guaranteeing renewal of projects to ensure that individuals and families living in those projects maintain stable housing. But HUD has slashed this figure, too, to only 30%. These new policies virtually guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless people in permanent housing nationwide will eventually be evicted through no fault of their own when the funds aren't renewed.
Additionally, HUD is planning to withhold funds to applicants that acknowledge the existence of trans and gender-diverse people, de-prioritize services to people with mental health issues or substance-use disorder, and discriminating against localities whose approach to homelessness differs from the administration's.
The complaint alleges HUD violated its own regulations by not engaging in rulemaking before issuing the changes and violated the law by not receiving congressional authorization for these new conditions, many of which are directly contrary to congressionally passed statutes and HUD's own regulations. The plaintiffs also argue that HUD's actions are arbitrary and capricious several times over, as HUD has made no effort whatsoever to explain the abandonment of their own long standing policies or consider the obvious consequences of tens of thousands of vulnerable people being suddenly evicted. The agency explicitly encouraged grantees to implement Housing First policies and to focus on the particular needs of LGBTQ+ individuals as recently as last year.
The complaint, led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, was filed this morning in the federal District of Rhode Island. Attorney General Mayes joined the coalition, which also includes the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
A copy of the complaint is available here (https://azag.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc1fad182b6d6f8b1e352e206&id=ae3cfb96f9&e=9153ff6c96).
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-sues-over-hud-policy-would-push-more-arizonans-homelessness
