Governor Gavin Newsom has awarded $130.7 million to 18 local governments to help them clear their homeless encampments and provide alternative shelter.
The recipients are:
- County of Contra Costa —- $5,708,516
- County of Riverside — $12,612,779
- County of San Bernardino — $11,000,000
- City and County of San Francisco – $7,975,486
- Humboldt County — Continuum of Care – $3,784,294
- Pasadena – Continuum of Care – $2,772,801
- City of Antioch – $6,812,686
- City of Berkeley – $5,395,637
- City of Carlsbad – $2,994,225
- City of Los Angeles – $11,351,281
- City of Palm Springs – $5,106,731
- City of Petaluma – $8,098,978
- City of Redlands — $5,341,800
- City of Richmond —- $9,336,746
- City of Sacramento — 18,199,661
- City of San Jose —- $4,821,083
- City of Victorville — $6,365,070
- City of Visalia —- $3,000,000
Each of the jurisdictions must adhere to a set of accountability measures, including compliance with all state housing laws. If they fall out of compliance, they risk losing the funds.
One jurisdiction that will no longer be eligible for any state housing or homelessness funds is Norwalk. Newsom made the announcement Thursday. He accused the city of violating state housing laws by banning homeless shelters, even after the state provided Norwalk with $29 million.
“After the state has provided cities and counties with unprecedented funding to address the homelessness crisis, it’s beyond cruel that Norwalk would ban the building of shelters while people are living on the city’s streets,” Newsom said. “This crisis is urgent, and we can’t afford to stand by as communities turn their backs on those in need.”
Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios defended her city’s moratorium on new shelters, calling it an effort to protect residents and responsible development.
“…Our experience with housing programs, particularly Project Roomkey, which placed a substantial number of homeless individuals with high acuity needs, near homes, schools, and public spaces, has raised significant concerns,” Rios added.
"We urgently need improved communication and collaboration from the state to address these issues; we must tackle this in a spirit of cooperation rather than under the threat of penalties.”