California Announces $300 Million Plan to Remove Homeless Encampments

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office plans to distribute around $300 million to local areas in the state to tackle homeless encampments.

Newsom emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive action during a virtual press conference, acknowledging the necessity to do more in cleaning up these encampments.

Newsom emphasized the significance of accountability and moral principles, promising that organizations that used the funds allotted would be held to “minimum expectations and standards.” 

The governor’s office emphasized the state’s dedication to addressing the underlying causes of homelessness instead of just moving people living in encampments.

Since July 2021, California claims to have addressed around 5,700 encampments as part of its Encampment Resolution Fund. Newsom stressed that the focus has not solely been on cleaning up these areas but on offering support to individuals, facilitating their transition towards self-sufficiency.

California’s Homelessness Response

The available $299 million will be distributed through competitive grants to cities and counties willing to apply through the California Interagency Council on Homelessness. The application window is set to remain open until the end of June or until the funds are fully exhausted.

Meghan Marshall, the executive officer of the council, emphasized the importance of housing as a fundamental solution to homelessness. She expressed confidence that these grants would enable local partners to assist unhoused individuals in transitioning from precarious 

encampments to safe and stable housing options.

California’s initiative through the Encampment Resolution Fund has already benefitted 66 communities with a total of $414 million disbursed since 2021. 

Additionally, the state’s transportation department, Caltrans, aims to utilize the funds to relocate encampments away from hazardous locations near freeways and park and rides, seeking to connect homeless individuals to more secure housing opportunities provided by local partners.

Governor Newsom reiterated the impact of prior distributions from the fund, which aided over 13,000 homeless individuals. 

The current allocation is anticipated to assist an additional 10,000 individuals, underscoring the state’s commitment to addressing homelessness through a multifaceted approach.