Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled more than $130 million to address the state’s homelessness epidemic in a virtual press conference on Friday.
“We need to take back the streets, and these encampment resolution grants are a part of that,” Newsom stated.
Eighteen counties and communities around the state will split the whole amount of money. This covers a few places in the Bay Area, such as Contra Costa County and San Francisco.
John Gioia, the supervisor of Contra Costa County, stated that his county intends to remove an encampment close to San Pablo using the $5.7 million it has been awarded.
According to Gioia, the county will offer wrap-around services and permanent housing to those residing in the encampment.
Without the assistance of the state, it would not be feasible.
“Getting people off the streets and into shelters and long-term housing is an expensive endeavor. In particular, those who require supportive services to stay in housing and have mental health or substance addiction concerns,” Gioia stated.
Newsom stressed during the press conference that the state expects the funding it gives local governments to produce measurable outcomes.
However, he also highlighted that sympathy for those afflicted is also necessary.
For Arron Ritschell of the San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness, it was a crucial moment.
“If we continue to see attitudes that are going to lead to policymaking that is going to criminalize homelessness, that is going to dehumanize those experiencing homelessness, then we’re only going to see an increase in those numbers,” Ritschell stated.
Ritschell stated that although the Coalition was pleased to learn that funds were being distributed, it also wanted to ensure that the funds reached the people who needed them the most.
“This has been done in the past, and we’ve seen that those funds don’t exactly make it into the programs and organizations that would help pull people out of homelessness and prevent homelessness,” Ritschell stated.
Regarding Gioia, he stated that Contra Costa County is eager to carry on cooperating with the state.
Because he is aware that using this money to solve the issue temporarily is just the first step.
“To finish this, we simply need a lot more funding. We will need more, he added, but the three jurisdictions receiving funding from the state in this round truly need it.
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