Written by Michael Palomba
On Wednesday, the State Department of Housing and Community Development awarded the California Emergency Solutions and Housings Fund $1.4 million in state funding for programs designed to combat homelessness.
The funds are intended to be used for housing relocation, rental assistance services, permanent housing subsidies, flexible housing subsidies, operating support for emergency housing, and support general support for homelessness programs and services.
Senator Pat Bates, who announced the award, said, “Homelessness is a growing problem in many communities that demands attention and action from our state government…Thanks to these state grants, the counties of Orange and San Diego will have additional resources to help more of our neighbors who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.”
This funding is much needed, as California has the highest homelessness rate in the country. A recent poll by The Public Policy Institute of California found that homelessness was one of the top two issues among California voters.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer has been outspoken in San Diego’s fight on homelessness, and he recently vetoed a shortsighted Democratic proposal that would’ve exacerbated the housing and homelessness problem even further.
