Larry Klein
Mayor
Richard Mehlinger
Vice Mayor
Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember
Murali Srinivasan
Councilmember
Linda Sell
Councilmember
Charlsie Chang
Councilmember
Eileen Le
Councilmember
May 28, 2026
T
he Honorable José Luis Solache Jr.
California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 5110
Sacramento, CA 95814
R
E: Assembly Bill 1708 (Solache): Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Pathways for Cities Act - SUPPORT
D
ear Assemblymember Solache:
O
n behalf of the City of Sunnyvale, we want to express our strong support for AB 1708, the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Pathways for Cities Act, which would establish a fair and accountable pathway for small and medium-sized cities to access existing HHAP Program funding.
C
ities like Sunnyvale are making substantial local investments to address homelessness, connect residents to supportive services, and expand access to safe and stable housing.
Yet despite these ongoing efforts, many cities, including those serving signific ant unhoused populations, remain ineligible to receive HHAP funding directly solely because of their population size. AB 1708 addresses this inequity by creating a new opportunity for cities with populations under 300,000 to apply for HHAP funding through their Continuum of Care while maintaining strong accountability measures and regional coordination.
L
ike many cities throughout California, Sunnyvale has committed local General Fund resources to outreach and supportive services. Unfortunately, our resources alone cannot address this statewide crisis. Providing cities with improved access to state homelessness resources like HHAP will strengthen local partnerships, increase service capacity, and help communities deliver measurable outcomes for unhoused residents.
A
s identified in City Council Legislative Advocacy Position 5(B), Sunnyvale encourages the State to expand supportive housing and services to address the needs of residents who are experiencing homelessness. AB 1708 would achieve this by expanding access t o HHAP funding resources directly to cites like Sunnyvale, while still ensuring that funds are used responsibly. By requiring participating cities to align with regionally coordinated homelessness action plans and adhere to state guidance and performance Attachment 1
The Honorable José Luis Solache Jr., State Assembly
May 28, 2026
expectations, the bill ensures that state investments remain targeted, transparent, and outcome-driven. The bill’s structure also preserves the important role of Continuums of Care while recognizing that local governments are often best positioned to identify and implement programs that will have the most immediate and meaningful impact in their communities.
The City also recognizes the importance of ensuring that HHAP funding levels are sufficient to support both existing regional homelessness response systems and expanded access created through AB 1708. In recent years, HHAP funding has experienced significant reductions and inconsistencies, creating challenges for local jurisdictions and service providers attempting to sustain programs and achieve long- term outcomes. As the State considers expanding eligibility for HHAP funding, Sunnyvale strongly encourages continued and increased State investment in the program to ensure that existing funding allocations are not diluted and that communities across California have adequate resources to effectively address homelessness.
Importantly, AB 1708 responds to a clear and growing need among California cities.
According to a 2024 League of California Cities survey, nearly 90 percent of cities are already investing their own general fund revenues to address homelessness, while 81 percent report that inconsistent state funding has hindered their ability to sustain services and achieve long- term progress. Expanding access to HHAP funding will help cities build on existing investments and strengthen California’s collective response to homelessness.
For these reasons, the City of Sunnyvale is proud to support AB 1708. Thank you for your leadership on this important issue and for your continued commitment to ensuring all California communities have the tools and resources needed to address homelessness effectively and compassionately. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Trudi Ryan, Community Development Director at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Larry Klein
Mayor
Attachment 1
The Honorable José Luis Solache Jr., State Assembly
May 28, 2026
cc: Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab
Assembly Member Patrick Ahrens
City Council
Tim Kirby, City Manager
Sarah Johsnon-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Connie Verceles, Assistant City Manager
Trudi Ryan, Director of Community Development
Attachment 1