It is an all-out war on the homeless camps on state roads now. And leading the charge is the Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, in collaboration with Caltrans. Caltrans, the state’s Department of Transportation, says homeless camps along roadways and under bridges pose many dangers.
Alisa Becerra, the Caltrans spokesperson, said: “It’s a safety risk for them, for the infrastructure, for our staff, for first responders, and potentially for the traveling public. That’s why we remove encampments.”
To effectively accomplish this, the state is approving an extra $299 million budget toward the effort. The money will go to local cities and counties as grants.
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Becerra hopes that people living along state roadways “are moved into housing, that they’re given keys.” She hopes the keys give them hope for life and a future.
Newsom has revealed that almost $300 million will go to local jurisdictions. The other half will go to Caltrans, the state’s Department of Transportation. It will sweep camps on state property, including highways, bike paths, and parks. All these while assisting the homeless to find better places to reside.
The governor has just about heard it with the problem of homeless squatters living on state roads, and so have many other civilians. He said in a news briefing on Monday.
“We’ve got to move, people are counting on us. The public has had it, they’re fed up, I’m fed up, we’re all fed up.”
So far, about 5,679 encampments have been cleaned in the state right-of-way. The latest grant funds go to the city’s coffer in addition to $414 million from the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund. The fund, established in 2021, serves 66 counties.
Cities and counties can apply for and receive the latest round of funds until June 2024 or when the funds finish.
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Alisa Becerra, Caltrans deputy division chief, said in a press release. “Through the Encampment Resolution Grants, Caltrans is working to connect people experiencing homelessness on its right-of-way to more secure and stable housing situations offered by local partners.”
She also believes that “The strength of this effort relies on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to creating real solutions that help the people who need it most.”
Multiple counties across California have declared war on homelessness, including Alameda County in the East Bay. Towards the end of 2022, Democratic Mayor Karen Bass’s first day in office saw her issue a state of emergency for Los Angeles’s homelessness crisis.
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In 2022, 30% of the nation’s homeless population was living in California. Since Newsom assumed his position in 2019, over $20 billion has gone into housing and alleviating homelessness. This happens mainly through the general fund.
Newsom said in a press release. “Since day one, combatting homelessness has been a top priority. Encampments are not safe for the people living in them or for community members around them.”
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