California's Mental Health and Homelessness Crisis: Proposed Solutions and Challenges.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking federal healthcare funding to cover rent for homeless people and those at risk of losing their housing. The program, called "transitional rent," would provide up to six months of rent or temporary housing for low-income enrollees who rely on the state's healthcare safety net. States are barred from using federal Medicaid dollars to pay directly for rent, but Newsom is asking the Biden administration to authorize the program. The initiative is part of California's efforts to fight and prevent homelessness, which is a critical component of healthcare.