Aditi Bantlamudi

Right now, housing developers say they have to navigate the state's nine different agencies, overseeing some 40 programs.

Sarah Karlinsky is with UC Berkeley's Turner Center for Housing Innovation.

When she compared California's system to other states, she found that 80% of them had a more consolidated system.

The new state agency will include separate departments for homelessness, financing, and civil rights.

The governor's office recently reported the number of people living outside decreased by 9 percent last year.

For NPR News, I'm Aditi Bandlamudi in San Francisco.