Helping Homeless Youth Exit Poverty

Dear Neighbors,

California is a state affected by staggering inequities – we possess the most wealth, but yet suffer from the highest rate of poverty. And it is our youth that are stuck in a cycle of generational poverty without the means or opportunities to advance themselves

I am continuing my work to ensure unhoused youth are able to exit poverty and attain a higher education that will provide them the skills to succeed.

After creating the successful Santa Clara County Transition-Aged Youth Basic Income Pilot Program and following my 2021 bill, SB 739 - California Universal Basic Income for Transition-Age Youth, being incorporated into last year’s state budget through the historic $35,000,000 “California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program” to serve California youth exiting the state’s extended foster care program as well as pregnant women, I have introduced SB 1341 (Cortese, 2022), the California Success, Opportunity, and Academic Resilience (SOAR) Guaranteed Income Program to provide guaranteed monthly payments to homeless youth in grade 12.

SB 1341 has already advanced through two Senate policy committee: Senate Education Committee and Senate Human Services Committee.

Higher education is increasingly becoming a necessity for homeless youth to exit poverty and attain financial stability. I believe SB 1341 can provide unhoused youth leaving high school the means to enroll in a postsecondary institution. 

According to the California Department of Education, in the 2020-21 school year, there were over 183,000 students in California public schools who met the federal definition of homelessness. Of those, 15,000 were in grade 12. By these numbers, homeless youth represent about 3.8% of our total student population in public schools. 

SB 1341 will help unhoused youth exiting high school access higher education, employment, and financial stability as they make their way into adulthood.

When we invest in our children, we can break the cycle of poverty.

Learn more about SB 1341 through recent news coverage:

San Jose Spotlight: Silicon Valley high school grads could get universal basic income

CalMatters: California senator proposes checks for low-income, homeless high school seniors

Since the pandemic began, the number of complaints of the non-consensual online sharing of obscene images has increased by over 120%. My bill SB 1210 will help prevent online sexual exploitation, non-consensual sharing of obscene images, and provide survivors recovery for online trafficking and an avenue for relief, recourse and recovery.

I’ve authored SB 1210 to combat sexual exploitation in the digital age. SB 1210 cleared its first major hurdle by passing the California Senate Judiciary Committee today. Since the pandemic began, the number of complaints of obscene images related to trafficking has increased by over 120%; online sexual exploitation is a form of abuse that disproportionately impacts women and girls.

SB 1210 requires any attorney fees and costs be paid to the prevailing plaintiff by the defendant in a civil action arising from the intentional, unauthorized distribution of obscene material.

This type of abuse destroys lives.

And victims of this type of abuse have to relive their trauma through the continued circulation of explicit photos and video online. Our laws should never protect abusers and traffickers. By making it easier to secure counsel and obtain justice, SB 1210 will prevent online sexual exploitation and trafficking and provide survivors an avenue for relief, recourse and recovery.

I’ve had many other bills clear crucial hurdles and advance through Senate committees this past several weeks:
 

• SB 831 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee: This bill would place enforceable regulations around the use of firearms and live ammunition on theatrical sets and productions in response to the tragic “Rust” shooting
   
• SB 1297 passed Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee: This bill would support a complete evaluation across a diversity of building materials to support the use of building materials with low embodied carbon and high carbon sequestration 
   
• SB 1244 passed Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee: This bill would ensure sufficient funding for conservation of waterfowl, including wetland maintenance
   
• SB 868 passed Senate Labor & Public Employment Committee: This bill would ensure equity and stability for California’s oldest educators
   
• SB 1100 passed two Senate Policy Committee and Senate Floor: This bill would ensure safe, open, and accessible public meetings
   
• SB 874 passed Senate Labor & Public Employment Committee: This bill would provide parity for employees in merit system districts
   
• SB 999 passed Senate Health Committee: This bill would ensure that Californians suffering from substance use disorders and addiction are able to receive residential treatment for the length of time that is medically necessary
   
• SB 1184 passed Senate Judiciary Committee: This bill would define in California law a “School-Linked Services” coordinator and ensure better school-based mental health treatment and care for students
   
• SB 1126 passed Senate Labor & Public Employment Committee: This bill would reduce complexity for employers and help more Californian’s save for their retirement
   
• SB 1328 (Joint-Author) passed two Senate Policy Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee: This bill would require the State and its agencies to divest from Russian assets and financial institutions
   
• SB 1294 passed Senate Labor & Public Employment Committee: This bill would promote employee wellness and safety in high stress industries
   
• SB 1385 passed Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee: This bill would establish a program to expand solar on or near multifamily housing in underserved communities
   

The Senate also recently released our budget proposal  that includes a Transportation Package that builds on the Governor’s proposed $5 billion investment to a $20 billion, four-year transportation package, with third and fourth years being subject to appropriation. Increased investments in our public transportation system are critically needed to ensure high quality service and to keep our communities running. We must work to repair our roads and bridges through infrastructure improvements while also funding critical projects to help us build for our future. With this significant investment, the state can improve schedule coordination, capacity, and quality for all riders across the state.

I had the pleasure of honoring a longtime community champion, Maritza Maldonado, as our Senate District 15 Woman of the Year! As Founder and Executive Director of Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment, Maritza continuously fights for the underserved – whether it’s alleviating homelessness, proving critical social services, health counseling, youth empowerment and more. She is someone who truly embodies the values of public service and has demonstrated leadership through action.

Congratulations to Campbell Union School District on your centennial celebration! Thank you for ensuring high quality learning for all students.

My Office and I celebrated Black April Memorial recognitions hosted by the Vietnamese American Roundtable and at San Jose’s Viet Museum. April 30th is commemorated in California as “Black April” – the anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.

I was honored to recognize and honor the work of the Santa Clara County Reentry Resource Center in reducing recidivism during their 10th Anniversary celebration.

The naming ceremony of the Robert N. Chang Student Center honored the 20 year partnership between San José City College and the Robert N. Chang Charitable Foundation that has awarded over $1.25 million in scholarship funds to over 130 recipients empowering student success at SJCC and beyond.

Thank you to my Office staff and the Kooser Woods Coalition neighborhood group that worked with state agencies to remove graffiti at the SR 85 pedestrian overcrossing near the Russo park area!

On behalf of the State of California, I want to send warmest wishes to all our Muslim neighbors: Eid Mubarak! Muslims across our state are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, or “festival of breaking the fast”, to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

I joined a roundtable convening to discuss CARE Court, a new statewide proposal from Governor Gavin Newsom to serve those with severe mental health as well as substance use disorders through CARE plans. Learn more at https://www.chhs.ca.gov/care-court/.
Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office.

I was honored to speak at the 44th annual Nikkei Matsuri-San Jose Japantown this weekend and honor longtime community volunteer Warren Hayashi. A special thank you to Doug Ray and all the event organizers as well as emcee Mike Inouye, from NBC!

If you could use some extra help putting food on the table for your kids, you’re not alone.

Because of the pandemic, a family of four can receive more than $700 every month to purchase food from CalFresh. Learn more: www.GetCalFresh.org or www.BenefitsCal.com.

Two-thirds of Covered California members have a brand-name health plan for $10 or less per month. If you're eligible for special enrollment, finish enrolling today. Call Covered CA for free help at (800) 300-1506 or visit www.coveredca.com.

In case you missed it: I hosted an Earth Month Town Hall that highlighted some of the many emerging career pathways around environmental stewardship, including state apprenticeship programs. Thank you to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Workforce Development Board, and the Department of Water Resources for joining us!

Watch the recording of the informative event at this link. 

Also, in honor of Earth Day, I invite you to learn more about my work, and the work of others, to strengthen climate change education and literacy for ALL California students through a recent article from San Jose Spotlight: San Jose Spotlight: The importance of environmental literacy.

State resources and services available are posted on my new website: sd15.sen.ca.gov. Get connected to some of the most frequently used state resources, including resources for businesses and employers, students, those in need of housing and financial assistance, and more.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I can be reached at senator.cortese@sen.ca.gov.

Thank you,
Dave Cortese