The Sanders Institute recently held a Gathering in Los Angeles to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis and determine actionable solutions. Congressional Representatives Pramila Jayapal. Ro Khanna, Steven Horsford, Jimmy Gomez, and Senator Bernie Sanders shared several pieces of federal legislation, while Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayors Karen Bass, Darrell Steinberg, and Dr. Mark Ghaley discussed some promising initiatives in California.

The symposium featured 14 panel discussions covering a wide range of topics with a diverse group of elected officials, academics, and those on the front lines of this crisis. Jane Fonda and Nalleli Cobo illuminated the critical intersection between climate justice and housing policy, and Saket Soni made that same policy connection with climate resilience. Assemblymember Alex Lee and Mayor James Coleman shared other countries’ successes in providing sustainable housing; Dr. Joseph Bishop and Dr. Tyrone Howard discussed the intersection of race, education, and youth homelessness, while Dr. Margot Kushel presented groundbreaking research on homelessness in California. Michael Weinstein, Rep. Hugo Martinez, Ada Briceño, Denny Zane, Ericka Lesley, Alan Minsky, and Michael Lighty shared their experiences and insights as community leaders, and Mark Rosenbaum, Benjamin Henwood, and Rob Reynolds covered current fights to house veterans.

There are too many other names to list, but stay tuned! We will share more important work and outcomes from this symposium in the coming weeks and months.