Sacramento’s Loaves and Fishes is where the homeless come for a hot meal— but bed space is limited.  That’s a familiar problem for 51-year-old Suzanne who has lived on the street and been forced to fend off drug users. 

“Like offering them money and buying them cigarettes just so they didn’t kill me in the street…”
 
Developing new shelters is one of several housing projects funded under Proposition 1C.  The nearly three billion dollar bond issue includes grants for urban development  including parks, sewer and water projects.  There’s also money for first-time and low income home buyers.  Julie Spezia is the Executive Director of Housing California.  She says the goal is to help those who are most in need. 

“I think people will see a real impact as a result of approving Prop 1C in terms of the number of people who are living more successfully in our community.” 

But the measure’s opponents, including State Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard, say it doesn’t tackle the real issue. 

“The problem is the price of housing itself by government taxes, regulation,  high price of land, high labor costs, high business costs in California.” 

The state’s non-partisan legislative analyst says the bonds will cost the state more than 6-billion over thirty years. The measure is part of a multi-billion dollar public works package supported by Democratic legislative leaders and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.