Backstory Behind the Homeless Song That’s Rallying Colusa County

The song "Showboating with Taxpayer Dollars" was written to raise awareness about the lack of open dialog and transparency surronding homeless funding in Colusa County and across our state.

We fully support our elected Board of Supervisors. We trust that their decisions come from a genuine commitment to this community — to protecting neighborhoods, honoring taxpayer dollars, and helping people rebuild their lives with dignity. That trust is our starting point.

Upscale Homeless Housing Sparks Outrage in Colusa County.

From that foundation, we’re asking Behavioral Health to meet the public with that same level of transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to the $450,000 Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) transitional housing grant currently under consideration.

This isn’t a HIPAA issue — nobody is asking for private medical information. We’re asking for clear, accessible, proactive information about how this money will be spent, why specific models were chosen, and how these decisions will impact both unhoused residents and the surrounding community.

The public deserves more than the bare minimum disclosure required under the new Behavioral Health Act.

And if Behavioral Health is committed to community-driven solutions, then they should also be advocating for compliance with HUD’s mandate for the federally designated Continuum of Care, Dos Rios CA-523.

That CoC currently has no person with lived experience of homelessness on its board, despite HUD requiring exactly that. Leaving that seat empty silences the voices that matter most — the people who know firsthand what works and what fails.

This top-down approach to homelessness has to end. Serving the homeless but refusing to serve with the homeless to solve homelessness is hypocrisy, plain and simple.

S O N G

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]

This song was written by people who have experienced homelessness in Colusa County and witnessed how untreated addiction destroys lives.

[Verse 2]

In California people are living without hope. In tents, cars, and unsafe places, just to survive! uh-uh

Our county refuses the homeless the dignity of a shower. Now they want to SPEND even more of your hard earned DOLLARS! yeah yeah

[Chorus]

Stop showboating with taxpayer dollars, oh-oh

Millions spent on a bridge to housing while the homeless have no showers! What Hypocrites!!!!!!!! What’s next — a trip to Disney World or rolls royce? oh-yeah - Raise your voice and demand that 'grants' are used better.

[Verse 3]

New, expensive housing might look impressive but our homeless need help not fancy spaces.

The state can't BUY its way out of this CRISIS! Too many of our homeless have serious addictions. Warm beds and jails can't sovle that. They need treatment not just shelter! yeah yeah

[Chorus]

Stop Showboating with taxpayer dollars. Millions spent on a bridge to housing while the homeless have no showers! What Hypocrites!!!!!!!! What’s next — a trip to Disney World or rolls royce? oh-oh Raise your voice and demand that grants are used better.

[Verse 4 ]

Our leaders are failing not just the homeless, but violated our trust too... when they spend our money.... but refuse to listen to me and you. yeah yeah

[Chorus]

Stop showboating with taxpayer dollars!

Stop showboating! RAISE your voice and demand that grants are used better!!!!!

[Fade out] [Full stop] [Song over]