The California Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG), representing 49 regional agencies across California, presented its Eureka Award to the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) for its Functional Zero Street Homelessness Initiative. The Functional Zero program helps cities achieve measurable reductions in homelessness by ensuring more people are housed than become homeless. Redondo Beach recently became the first city to pilot and reach this benchmark.
The SBCCOG’s Homeless Services team coordinates housing placements, support services and real-time case management throughout the South Bay. In Redondo Beach, Functional Zero reduced street homelessness cases from 261 in 2017 to 25 as of mid-May 2025 while maintaining an average on-the-street duration of 14 days.
The Eureka Award recognizes California’s most innovative regional programs. The SBCCOG’s initiative stood out for its replicable framework combining housing solutions like pallet shelters and interim housing along with client aid. As three additional South Bay cities prepare to implement the program, the recognition highlights how regional collaboration can create scalable solutions to homelessness.
The CALCOG’s selection also highlights the SBCCOG’s leadership in developing practical, accountable approaches to one of California’s most complex challenges. The award validates the Functional Zero model as both an aspirational goal and achievable standard for communities statewide. •