Newsom Sets New Homelessness Funding, Accountability Measures
Fresh Funding for Local Communities
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced $920 million in newly available funding to help local communities clean up encampments and fight homelessness, as well as new measures he said were meant to ensure state homeless dollars are spent wisely.
Main Allocation of Funds
The vast majority of the funds — $760 million — will be available through the sixth round of the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program and can be spent on permanent and interim housing, outreach services, and other efforts.
Requirements for Funding
To access these funds, the governor’s office said local municipalities must meet certain requirements, including that they have moved to clean up encampments, have spent or obligated previous funding, and have met state requirements to plan for new housing.
New Measures for Accountability
The governor’s office further announced a new website that will allow Californians to see the progress their counties have made in building new housing and reducing homelessness. It also tracks how much money each county has received from the state to get people off the streets.
Governor’s Statement
“As we continue to support our communities in addressing homelessness, we expect fast results, not excuses,” Newsom said in a news release. “While we are pleased by the progress many communities have made to address the homelessness crisis, there is more work to do.”
Additional Funding Awards
In addition to the $760 million in funds that local communities can apply for, Newsom announced the awarding of about $160 million in grants that local governments can start spending now.
Specific Grants
This includes millions for the city of Los Angeles to clean up three encampments near the I-10 Freeway, Hollywood Boulevard, and the L.A. River.
Future Measures
In the future, the governor has proposed attaching further strings to state homeless funds, including the ability to “claw back” distributed funds when local governments haven’t made enough progress on solving the crisis.
Conclusion
The governor’s new measures aim to ensure that state funding is used effectively to address the homelessness crisis, while also providing resources for local communities to make progress. The allocation of funds and new website will provide transparency and accountability, allowing Californians to track progress and hold their local governments accountable.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the total amount of funding announced by Gov. Newsom?
- How much of the funding is available for local communities to apply for?
- What are the requirements for local municipalities to access the funds?
- What is the purpose of the new website announced by the governor’s office?
$920 million
$760 million
They must have moved to clean up encampments, have spent or obligated previous funding, and have met state requirements to plan for new housing.
To track the progress of counties in building new housing and reducing homelessness, as well as to track how much money each county has received from the state to get people off the streets.
