Visalia gets $3M to clear homeless encampments
Oct 04, 2024
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that the state will grant 18 cities $131 million to clear homeless encampments and provide shelter, care and support - one of those cities is in the Central Valley.
The grants are a part of the state’s $1 billion Encampment Resolution Funds. Friday's grants were part of the second round of the funds. Visalia was awarded $3 million. During the first round, Fresno was awarded $10,926,075.48.
“We’re supporting local communities’ efforts to get people out of encampments and connected with care and housing across the state. It’s important and urgent work that requires everyone to do their part. The state has committed more than $27 billion to help local governments tackle the homelessness crisis — and we want to see $27 billion worth of results,” Newsom said in a statement.
The city of Sacramento will receive the most funding at $18 million.
Award recipients will need to adhere “to all state housing and homeless laws — as well as remain in compliance with their Housing Elements — or risk losing funding and face other enforcement actions,” said Newsom.
In July, Newsom signed an executive order, which, among other things, allowed state and local officials to dismantle homeless encampments.
The executive order was issued in response to a Supreme Court decision in late June that granted officials authority to remove the encampments and ticket people for camping in public in Grants Pass, Oregon.
While Newsom cannot force local authorities to act, his administration can apply pressure by withholding money for counties and cities.
Here’s the full list of cities and communities that received funding:
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
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