Hollywood in Sacramento: H4WRD's Advocacy in Action

DATELINE: Sacramento, CA (May 19, 2024)

The promise inherent in Hollywood 4WRD’s advocacy pillar is that we will lead our coalition with a cohesive voice, and ensure that our stakeholders remain aware of the organization’s role in current policy initiatives. In service of that pillar (and promise!), H4WRD’s Board of Directors met earlier this month to discuss AB 2650 (Zbur), and whether the bill warranted H4WRD’s support. 

Currently, the status and type of each resident in an Adult Residential Facility (ARF) or Residential Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) -- colloquially called board and care facilities -- in the state of California is unknown to systems leaders. Without the vital information of who, exactly, fills these beds and what, exactly, their specific needs are, it’s impossible to adequately plan for them and board and care residences are closing by the dozens across the state*.

Introduced by our Hollywood area State Assemblymember Rick Zbur, and sponsored by Licensed Adult Residential Care Association (LARCA), AB 2650 would require current data from board and care facilities to help state and local leaders create stronger plans for our vulnerable neighbors.

H4WRD agrees that AB 2650 fills critical gaps regarding licensed adult residential care facilities, that these facilities are in a state of crisis, and that improved data collection is crucial to better understanding and ultimately achieving cost-effective and sector-stabilizing support down the line. As such, H4WRD’s Board unanimously supports AB 2650.

In addition to advocating in support of a state bill, H4WRD’s Executive Director, Brittney Weissman, traveled to Sacramento with Hollywood community leaders on Tuesday, May 14th, on behalf of The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to meet privately with several members of the California Legislature.

Brittney was joined in the group by Steve Nissen and Aaron Taxy from The Chamber, Sonia Campos-Rivera (UNITE-LA), Matt Fritch (The MBS Group), Pamela Marcello (Hollywood Burbank Airport), Nick Rimedio (W Hotel Hollywood), and Sarah Zurell (Cels Inc.).

The group’s whirlwind day in Sacramento featured meetings with a long list of California lawmakers, including State Senators Ben Allen, Maria Elena Durazo, Anthony Portantino, and Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, and Assemblymembers Laura Friedman, Mike Gipson, Tina McKinnor, Al Muratsuchi, and Miguel Santiago.

Steve Nissen, President and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber,  explained one of the group’s goals for each meeting was, “to present the lawmakers with a clearer view, beyond the glitz and glamor, of how homelessness is directly impacting the Hollywood community.”

‍Steve added, “We knew they were all keenly aware of the issue of homelessness across California. But we wanted to share the wide range of perspectives on the crisis offered by Hollywood’s diverse stakeholders.”

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By the end of the day, Brittney was feeling hopeful about the group’s efforts:

‍“We gave California’s key decision makers a better understanding of homelessness in Hollywood, while also sharing a glimpse of Hollywood 4WRD’s diverse coalition, and some of the innovations and advocacy efforts we advance collectively in Hollywood.”

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H4WRD’s support of AB 2650, along with Brittney’s trip to Sacramento, both reinforce our Advocacy pillar and strengthen H4WRD’s ability to lead and represent our membership. As we do so, we move ever closer to fulfilling our mission of ending and preventing street homelessness in Greater Hollywood -- one step and one policy position at a time.

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* – Read H4WRD’s blog To Board and Care in Hollywood for an overview of an in-depth study published last year by The Future Organization, which provided critical insights, data, and recommendations regarding the current Board and Care system in LA County.

Additional Resources:

• Hollywood 4WRD’s Advocacy Graphic: a one-sheet laying out H4WRD’s initial five policies.
• Hollywood 4WRD’s Revised 2024 FAQ: A comprehensive Handbook on Homelessness in Hollywood
• Hollywood 4WRD One-Sheet: A brief overview of who we are and what we do.
• Hollywood 4WRD 2023 Annual Report: A more in-depth look at our focus and priorities during a productive 2023.
• H4WRD’s Homelessness in Hollywood Help Sheet: A handy one-sheet of local resources we encourage you to share widely and print out for the office or home!