First-of-its-kind measure to help build and preserve more than 70,000 homes
Contra Costa County would receive $1.9 billion
By John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications & Rebecca Long, Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, adopted a resolution to place a general obligation bond measure on the November 5 general election ballot in each of the nine Bay Area counties to raise and distribute $20 billion for the production of new affordable housing and the preservation of existing affordable housing throughout the region. BAHFA is jointly governed by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)’s Executive Board and by the BAHFA Board, which is comprised of the same membership as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
The bond could create 72,000 new affordable homes – more than double what would be possible without a bond. Without more funding, only about 71,000 affordable homes will be built or preserved in the Bay Area over the next 15 years – a status quo that is failing to meet the needs of the people who live and work here.
Currently, the Bay Area doesn’t have enough homes for the people who live here. As a result of the region’s housing shortage:
In 2022, 37,000 people were unhoused in the Bay Area.
1.4 million people—23% of Bay Area renters—spend over half their income on rent.
High rents and home prices force people to live far from work, making congestion and pollution much worse, and putting a major strain on working families.
Too many Bay Area residents live in overcrowded and unsafe housing.
Vital employees and community members are leaving the area.
Wednesday’s unanimous vote by the BAHFA Board marks the final discretionary step in the process to place the measure on the November ballot. Under state law, each Bay Area county will now take a non-discretionary, ministerial vote to place the measure on the ballot in that county, in accordance with election deadlines.
The BAHFA bond measure currently would require approval by at least two-thirds of voters to pass. Voters throughout California this November will consider Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 (ACA 1) — which would set the voter threshold at 55 percent for voter approval of bond measures for affordable housing and infrastructure. If a majority of California voters support ACA 1, the 55 percent threshold will apply to the BAHFA bond measure.
“Today’s vote is the culmination of so many years of effort by so many people all around our region,” observed BAHFA Chair and Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza. “The Bay Area’s longstanding housing affordability problems affect all of us, our friends, our neighbors and our family members. This vote is about preserving opportunity for everyone.”
Source: BAHFA
The proposed BAHFA bond measure calls for 80 percent of the funds to go directly to the nine Bay Area counties (and to the cities of San Jose, Oakland, Santa Rosa and Napa, each of which carries more than 30 percent of their county’s low-income housing need), in proportion to each county’s tax contribution to the bond. In consultation with its cities and towns, each county would determine how to distribute bond funds to best meet its jurisdictions’ most pressing housing needs. These distributions would include:
Contra Costa County: $1.9 billion
Alameda County: $2 billion
Marin County: $699 million
Napa County: $118 million
San Francisco County: $2.4 billion
San Mateo County: $2.1 billion
Santa Clara County: $2.4 billion
Solano County: $489 million
Sonoma County: $553 million
City of Napa: $246 million
City of Oakland: $765 million
City of San Jose: $2.1 billion
City of Santa Rosa: $242 million
The remaining 20 percent, or $4 billion, would be used by BAHFA to establish a new regional program to fund affordable housing construction and preservation projects throughout the Bay Area. Most of this money (at least 52 percent) must be spent on new construction of affordable homes, but every city and county receiving a bond allocation must also spend at least 15 percent of the funds to preserve existing affordable housing. Almost one-third of funds may be used for the production or preservation of affordable housing, or for housing-related uses such as infrastructure needed to support new housing.
Source: BAHFA
The California Constitution currently does not allow bond funds to be used for tenant protections such as rental assistance, but planned investments in new housing and affordable housing preservation will protect tens of thousands of low-income renters and vulnerable residents.
The BAHFA Board also adopted, on Wednesday, resolutions approving the Authority’s Business Plan and its Regional Expenditure Plan, which explain the prioritization for use of the funds that would be directly administered by BAHFA.
Oversight and accountability provisions to be included in the BAHFA bond measure include the creation of a special bond proceeds account; establishment of a Citizens’ Oversight Committee that would review the expenditure of bond proceeds and report to the BAHFA and ABAG Executive Boards on whether the funds were spent appropriately; an independent annual performance audit; a requirement that all bond-projects be consistent with state laws on labor standards; a requirement that administrative costs not exceed the amount prescribed in state law; and a prohibition against any public official who voted to send the ballot measure to the voters bidding on any work funded with proceeds from the bond.
The ABAG Executive Board voted unanimously at its April meeting to adopt a resolution approving BAHFA’s Business Plan and its Expenditure Plan, as well as to endorse placement of the bond measure on the November ballot. In her remarks preceding the vote, ABAG President and Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos noted, “This is a remarkable milestone moment for our region. Housing stability is essential for our community to thrive, and this proposal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
Rendering of Hope Solutions’ Hope Village tiny-home project in Walnut Creek.
Reallocates excess funds from Downtown Roadway Project, $550,000 were originally slated for housing
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the Antioch City Council approved spending $6.4 million of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and state funding on affordable housing and homeless services, including 102 units on the properties of two churches to serve close to 300 residents in the city. District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker was absent for the meeting.
At the beginning of the regular meeting Assistant City Attorney Brittany Brice reported out of closed session that on the civil rights lawsuit by Trent Allen, et al vs. City of Antioch and on the recruitment of the city manager there was “no reportable action”.
Besides approving the sideshow ordinance on a 4-0 vote, which outlaws organizers, advertisers and spectators, the council approved spending funds for affordable housing and services for Antioch’s homeless residents.
Housing Successor Funding allocated by the Antioch City Council on June 25, 2024. Source: City of Antioch
Based on the funding recommendations of the CDBG Committee, consisting of Torres-Walker and District 3 Councilman Mike Barbanica, it includes $4,050,000 in Local Housing Successor funding from the City’s former redevelopment agency for homeless services and the development of affordable housing with 80 units on the property of Grace Bible Fellowship of Antioch on Oakley Road,
Another $610,896.19 was reallocated from excess funds that weren’t needed for the Downtown Roadway Project, for the development of affordable, supportive housing for extremely low-income and homeless households. It will be used for 22 housing units on a 2.17-acre parcel located at 3195 Contra Loma Blvd. in Antioch, purchased from First Family Church, through Hope Solutions.
An additional $6,454,180 of funding to address identified high priority needs of lower income residents in Antioch was approved for spending by the council. That amount includes $879,893 in CDBG entitlement funds, $610,896 in reallocated CDBG funds, $184,970 in previously approved CDBG-CV (Covid) funds, $4,050,000 in Local Housing Successor funds, $645,614 in Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds, and $82,807 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funds.
Agenda Item 10 was a public hearing on the spending and included amending the FY 2024-25 Budget. The council first heard from Public Safety and Community Resources Department Director Tasha Johnson who introduced Teresa House, the City’s housing and homeless consultant, to provide the staff presentation.
“It’s been quite some time since we’ve had an allocation this large and it’s exciting,” she stated. “It’s the plan we present to the federal government for the block grant funds.”
House mentioned the Hope Village project, which is a planned “22-unit housing development on church land” and “Grace Commons. They are partnering with Grace Bible Fellowship…for 80 units. The cost is $50,871” per unit from the City’s grant funds.
However, the total cost is estimated to be $45-50 million for the project.
The cost per home for the Hope Village units will be $27,768 from the City’s grant funding out of a total of $17 million budgeted for the project.
House said this was “the first affordable housing project (of its type) to come before the city or the county in over 15 years.”
Source: City of Antioch
Reallocation of Excess CDBG Funds for Downtown Roadway Project
Regarding the reallocation of the Downtown Roadway Project funds for affordable housing, House said, “These were not in any way negligently unspent. These were residual funds waiting for their next allocation.”
“The Downtown Roadway Project received an extra $550,000 by dissolving the rotating housing loan funds,” she continued. “HUD does not allow cities to hold on to monies. If we have excess funds on hand we’re sanctioned by HUD. It’s very necessary we spend the funds.”
“We’re recapturing that $550,000 and additional funds, and spending them on affordable housing, which they’d like to build in our community,” she explained.
No one spoke as the proponent for the public hearing, but resident Andrew Becker spoke as the opponent.
“It’s concerning because we see the growing need in our community and the impact we see as we drive these streets and talk with our community members who speak about the cost of housing,” he said. “We can’t find within our General Budget the funds for shelter housing beyond what we have. We say we don’t have dollars. We ask what it would cost to house the people on the street, but no one can give us those numbers because no one is working on it.”
“Our Point-In-Time Count went up. We know there are more people on the street,” Becker continued. “Instead, we choose to allocate dollars to housing rehabilitation in our community.”
PLHA is money that’s supposed to go to rapid deployment solutions,” he stated. “What is the cost of putting up 50 pallet shelters instead of paying a hotel operator $100,000 a month for 30 rooms?”
“You didn’t even choose to have that conversation. I don’t understand why I have to hear from our housing consultant that, ‘I don’t have enough time.’”
“What are we doing here besides paying that consultant a lot of dollars when what she’s developed doesn’t meet the community’s needs?” he asked. “And some of you don’t even want to sit down and talk with me.”
“We have such few dollars. As far as the millions of dollars going into these developments. What’s concerning when I show up to these CDBG meetings, the developer doesn’t even show up. There should have been the opportunity for council members to ask the developer questions,” Becker complained. “I feel like, as much as staff is right the County is saying we want to see local commitments, there are grey areas of concern.”
“There could be $50 million in costs,” he stated. “Sometimes developers…see these dollars as free money. It’s almost $7 million and when you look at the true intent of what a Housing Successor Agency does…and the misuse of those dollars, you see the cycle continue in a different model unless we have leaders who are responsible who say, ‘I’m not comfortable in giving $1 million in taxpayer dollars.”
“It’s a large cost so I really hope those questions
“I don’t want to see a 80-unit project go up on a church that doesn’t know what kind of waters it’s stepping into,” Becker stated. “If you’re going to ask the people for the dollars, it’s got to make sense.”
Grace Commons
According to the city staff report, the Grace Commons three-story housing project will include 80 units serving 200+ people for an estimated cost of $45-50 million. Funding is coming from capital campaign by church which has been successful for all structures on the property, County, State applications, federal, large tech companies.
Pastor Kirkland Smith spoke about the project planned for his church’s property saying, “This…goes back to 9-11. I’s the dream Grace Bible Fellowship has had for this community.”
He then shared about other services the church provides for the community including “Grace House Sober Living Home on our campus, Grace Closet, Grace After School Tutoring Program…and Midnight Basketball.”
“We’ll provide wrap-around services that will come into Grace Commons. Chalk is the name of the service provider,” Smith explained.
“Antioch is the number one for unhoused in Contra Costa County,” he pointed out.
“When we commit to a project…it’s going to happen. It’s going to come to pass,” Smith assured the council.
“I’m a 29-year resident of Antioch. I’m invested in this community,” the pastor shared. “I’m excited about the opportunity and I will focus on the work and not those who are trying to frustrate the work.”
Hope Village
According to the city staff report, Hope Solutions is proposing 22 doors/households for an estimated 95 residents maximum to be named Hope Village. The city money will be used for development of the units. Total costs are $17 million in budget with a capital campaign, plus, they will be going back next year to the County and will pursue other sources.
Jasmine Tarkoff, a representative of Hope Solutions spoke about the organization saying they had, “a long history of service in this county for close to three decades. We serve 3,500 individuals with our…services.”
“We spoke to dozens of people in Antioch, house and unhoused about Cottage Communities on faith-owned land” she stated and said the 22-unit project would consist of one-, two- and three-bedroom manufactured homes.
“Hope Solutions will serve as the professional service provider,” Tarkoff continued. “In addition, we will provide the professional property management services on site…every single day.”
“Hope Solutions has launched a capital campaign to raise private funds to couple with this project,” she added.
Antioch resident Louise Greene spoke next saying, “There’s talk, ‘we’re going to build this and they’re going to move in.’ No, they’re not. Those aren’t normal homeless people. They’re unstable.”
“By law you can’t force anyone into a program. It’s not just building a box. It’s building a home,” she continued. “It cost us $17,000 over three years to help my sister. There’s no instant solutions and the cost is a lot. If you can’t give them back their dignity that’s not the right program.”
“Along with these services they’re looking to build, is family help for the whole wrap,” Green stated. “The people on the street have the final say of what kind of housing, what kind of program they want to go into.”
“I’d love to know, with Grace, if you have to be a church member to receive housing or with Hope Solutions,” shared another woman who said she had been homeless twice.
Ralph Hernandez was the last public speaker on the matter, saying he agreed with the comments made by Andrew Becker.
“All of that money going to that private hotel, the City didn’t end up having any ownership in it,” he stated. “They had their…motel rooms improved and upgraded.”
“It was a drug haven, and you had some prostitutes going there and being run by thugs,” Hernandez continued.
“The City has to know what you are spending and giving public monies for. You’re supposed to evaluate what the money is going to. These groups have plans to have this housing…it’s great. But you, as the City should have some ownership…not just give taxpayer money out and say, ‘you own it. 100%.’”
“Now, what I’m reading is the City won’t have enough money to continue that program, there,” he stated. “Is the City going to throw more money into it? You’ll still have no ownership.”
Source: City of Antioch
Council Discussion & Unanimous Votes
During council discussion on the use of the funds, Barbanica spoke first asking questions of Ms. House.
“There is some concern with the public that we’re shorting projects that are out there for curbs, gutters, roadways with these monies moving from one fund to another.”
“Are we shorting something, now?” he asked.
Acting Public Works Director Scott Buenting said, “The answer is no. There is nothing being worked on, currently that these monies would be spent on.”
“How much are we spending to hand over to these two groups?” Barbanica then asked.
“That is $4 million and some change,” House responded.
“Just so the public understands. This is not money coming out of our General Funds,” the councilman stated.
“CDBG and Housing Successor Funds,” House explained. “That money is all a loan. We’re not giving anyone anything. It’s bringing $70 million coming from elsewhere.
“This will help 250 people to get off the streets,” he said.
“That’s correct,” House responded.
“Where will the public get the most out of it? This is permanent, long-term housing,” Barbanica stated. “It’s not just bridge housing.”
“It’s a loan. We have recourse to go after the property,” he explained. “I support the project.”
“The agreement for affordability with the City, it must remain for 55 years,” House added.
“For Hope Solutions, the purchase will most likely be from CDBG funds,” she said in response to a question from Ogorchock. “The Housing Successor funds won’t be available until 2025.”
“The timing for Hope Solutions is 2026 and the other one, 2027,” Ogorchock stated.
“That timetable was if they got funding from the County. They did not…so that timetable will get pushed out,” House explained and added that another project “took nine years”
“There is not one way into homelessness and there’s not going to be one way out of homelessness,” Hernandez-Thorpe stated. “To think there’s one magic bullet…is a ridiculous notion. While homelessness increased overall in the county, imagine if we didn’t have these programs in place.”
Barbanica made the motion to approve the expenditure of the $4 million in CDBG funds for the two projects. It was seconded by Ogorchock and passed 4-0.
Barbanica then moved approval of the reallocation of the remaining Downtown Roadway Project funds of $611,000 for the use of development of affordable housing for extremely low-income households. Ogorchock seconded the motion and it also passed 4-0.
Finally, Barbanica made the motion to approve spending CDBG funds, including Coronavirus funds and Housing Successor funds for affordable housing. Ogorchock seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.
“Congratulations to you both,” Barbanica said to the representatives of the organizations building the housing projects.
Includes reallocating downtown road money for homeless, will also vote on 5-year Capital Improvement Program, services, discuss creating DEIB officer staff position
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting tomorrow night, June 25, 2024, the Antioch City Council will vote on which sideshow ordinance they want, including one that targets spectators, the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program budget, spending $6.45 million for homeless services and development of affordable housing, including reallocating $611,000 from the Downtown Roadway Project fund, and discuss the Amtrak Station closure.
NOTE: A previous version of this report had included both the $4,050,000 and $610,896 that was included twice in the staff report and they had been incorrectly added to the total.
In addition, the council will also discuss multiple council member proposed agenda items, including creating a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) officer staff position and a Health and Safety Analyst position for the Human Resources Department at the request of District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker. They will also have a discussion on street cameras, and the potentially developing a policy on the use of native plant species for new development at the request of District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock.
$6.4 Million for Homeless Services, Affordable Housing
The state requires cities with former redevelopment agencies to use the remaining funds for affordable housing, referring to as Housing Successor funds. As of 2023, the City of Antioch hadapproximately $7.3 millionavailable to subsidize units in the 0-50 percent Area Median Income (AMI) affordability level, including units for the unhoused or family housing.
According to the staff report for the agenda item #10, the City of Antioch serves as the Housing Successor to the Antioch Development Agency. The council will vote on the funding recommendations of the CDBG Committee approving $4,050,000 in Housing Successor funding for homeless services and development of affordable housing.
Funds for the Downtown Roadway Project, approved by the city council in 2020, were intended to rehabilitate roadways, replace damaged sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and install Americans with Disabilities Act compliant curb ramps to improve the quality of life for Antioch residents.
According to the City staff report, the council will be asked to vote on the funding recommendations of the CDBG Committee, made up of District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica and Torres-Walker, and adopt the resolution approving the substantial amendments to the FY 2023-24 Action Plan Downtown Roadway Project to reallocate $395,346.34 and the FY 2021-22 Action Plan to reallocate $215,549.85 of remaining funds in the Downtown Roadway Project for a total of $610,896.19 to be utilized for the development of affordable supportive housing for extremely low-income and homeless households.
In addition, the council will vote on the funding recommendations of the CDBG Committee and adopt the resolution approving the FY 2024-25 City of Antioch Action Plan, which encompasses CDBG Entitlement funds, prior year reallocated funds, use of CDBG Corona Virus funds, PLHA, EECBG and Housing Successor funds totaling $6,454,180 to address identified high priority needs of lower income residents of the City of Antioch. UPDATE: That amount includes both the aforementioned $4,050,000 and $610,896.19 amounts.
The meeting begins at 6:15 PM with a closed session in which they council will discuss recruitment of the city manager and a civil rights lawsuit by one the four young men convicted, earlier this year of a 2021 murder in Antioch, and others who claim they were targeted by police officers who sent the racist text messages.
That will be followed by the regular session at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers at 200 H Street, in historic, downtown Rivertown.
General public comments can be made at either the beginning or end of the council meeting, specific comments can be made on each agenda item or if you wish to provide a written public comment, you may email them to cityclerk@antiochca.gov, by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Written public comments received by 3:00 p.m. the day of the City Council Meeting will be shared with the City Council before the meeting; entered into the public record; and available to the public upon request. However, they will not be read during the City Council Meeting.
Allows felony charges and increases sentences for certain theft and drug crimes, including fentanyl
Sacramento, CA – California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. announced that an initiative became eligible for the November 5, 2024, General Election ballot on June 10, 2024.
In order to become eligible for the ballot, the initiative needed 546,651 valid petition signatures, which is equal to five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2022 General Election.
A measure can become eligible via random sampling of petition signatures if the sampling projects that the number of valid signatures is greater than 110 percent of the required number. The initiative needed at least 601,317 projected valid signatures to become eligible by random sampling, and it has exceeded that threshold today.
On June 27, 2024, the Secretary of State will certify the initiative as qualified for the November 5, 2024, General Election ballot, unless it is withdrawn by the proponent prior to certification pursuant to Elections Code section 9604(b).
– Allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs, including fentanyl, and for thefts under $950—both currently chargeable only as misdemeanors—with two prior drug or two prior theft convictions, as applicable. Defendants who plead guilty to felony drug possession and complete treatment can have charges dismissed.
– Increases sentences for other specified drug and theft crimes.
– Increased prison sentences may reduce savings that currently fund mental health and drug treatment programs, K-12 schools, and crime victims; any remaining savings may be used for new felony treatment program.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased state criminal justice system costs potentially in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually, primarily due to an increase in the state prison population. Some of these costs could be offset by reductions in state spending on local mental health and substance use services, truancy and dropout prevention, and victim services due to requirements in current law. Increased local criminal justice system costs potentially in the tens of millions of dollars annually, primarily due to increased court-related workload and a net increase in the number of people in county jail and under county community supervision. (23-0017A1)
According to Ballotpedia.com, the political action committee supporting the measure, Californians to Reduce Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft, has raised over $7.2 million to support the effort. Of that amount $2.5 million was contributed by Walmart, $1.0 million from Home Depot, $500,000 from Target, $300,000 each from 7-Eleven and California Correctional Peace Officers Association Truth in American Government Fund.
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1959 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 23-0017A1.
The proponent of the measure is Thomas W. Hiltachk of the Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk law firm. They can be reached at (916) 442-7757. The address for the proponent is 455 Capitol Mall, Suite 600, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The 2024 Point-in-Time Count identified 471 more people experiencing homelessness on a given night
Shows 75% have been homeless for 10 years or more
By Allen D. Payton
Homelessness in Contra Costa County increased by 471 people this past year according to the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) county staff and volunteers conducted in January. There were a total of 2,843 people experiencing homelessness on a given night in the county versus 2,372 in last year’s count. Of those amounts the unsheltered population increased 18.5% to 1,959 from 1,653 in 2023.
Each year Contra Costa Health Services’ Continuum of Care conducts the PIT, as an annual census and survey to identify the number of people experiencing homelessness in our county. It plays a crucial role in securing funding and improving our response to the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Statistics
The report shows 69% or 1,949 of the county’s homeless residents were unsheltered while 31% or 884 were in emergency shelter beds or transitional housing, with 39% of the unsheltered either outdoors or in tents, 11% in recreational vehicles (RV’s), 14% in cars and 5% in vans. Each of this year’s total figures were increases over last year’s count of 1,653 unsheltered and 719 in shelter beds.
The cities with the most unsheltered homeless people were Antioch with 413, followed by Richmond with 388, Concord with 173, Martinez with 158 and Pittsburg with 110. Antioch’s homeless population increased from 334 in 2023 and 238 in 2020 while Richmond’s decreased by 99 from 487, Concord decreased from 241, while Martinez increased from 140 and Pittsburg also increased from 58 last year.
The report shows East County had the highest homeless population at 39%, while West County had 31% and Central County which includes the San Ramon Valley had 30% of the homeless population in the county.
Source: CCHealth
The report shows 61% of the homeless were male, 38% female, and 0.6% identified as transgender or non-binary.
The racial makeup of the homeless consisted of 39% White, 33% Black, 15% Hispanic/Latino and 9% multiracial. All other races made up 5% or less.
Over half of the homeless population were aged 24-54 at 56%, while 29% were 55 and up, 7% were aged 18 to 24 and another 7% were under 18.
Under Population Characteristics, adult-only households made up the vast majority of the count at 95%, 57% were reported as chronically homeless, 5% were veterans, 15% of adults had been in foster care, and 45% of adults had spent one or more nights in jail or prison in the past year.
Under Self-Reported Health Conditions, the report shows 83% of households had at least one member with a disabling condition, 61% had a mental health condition, 59% had a substance use disorder, 49% had a chronic health condition, 49% had a physical disability, 17% were fleeing domestic violence and 1% had AIDS or HIV related illness.
The report also shows 75% had been homeless for 10 or more years, 10% from five to nine years, 11% from one to four years and 3% had been homeless for less than one year.
Under the Age First Experienced Homelessness, 52% did while age 25-49, 24% while age 18-24, 13% under age 18 and 12% at age 50 or older.
26% Increase in Shelter
The report provides some positive news that, “Contra Costa County increased temporary and permanent housing beds by 26% between 2023 and 2024” with gains in each of the five categories of Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing and Other Permanent Housing from a total of 2,833 beds in 2023 to 3,561 this year.
Richmond Received $8.6 Million State Grant
UPDATE 1: According to District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen’s weekly newsletter issued Friday, May 31st, “Some cities that sustained or strengthened efforts to address homelessness, particularly outreach, showed significant improvement, Richmond (-99) used an $8.6 million state grant to transition nearly 100 residents of a large encampment into housing. Concord (-68) has a homeless strategic plan and well-developed services for residents experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness, including case management, housing navigation, household budgeting, and short-term rental assistance.”
Antioch wasn’t one of those cities, as the council voted last year to spend up to $2 million to lease and operate a motel to provide transitional housing.
Andersen was the only supervisor or county staff member to so far provide the information about this year’s PIT Count to the public, other than the post of the report on the County’s website, as no press release was issued by Contra Costa Health on the matter.
Questions were emailed Monday morning, June 3rd, to Contra Costa Health and H3 staff, and all five supervisors asking why the information was being suppressed, how much money did county spend last year helping homeless residents get off the street and into transitional or permanent housing and if they know how much was spent by all of the cities in the county besides the $8.6 million grant in Richmond.
UPDATE 2: In a response later that morning, Contra Costa Health spokesman Karl Fischer wrote, “Contra Costa Health does not issue a media release regarding every report it produces. Most years, we do not issue a media release regarding data results from point-in-time counts.
The PIT infographic was posted at http://cchealth.org on Tuesday evening, May 28. Several of our media partners did publish the information later in the week, because they contacted our public information office requesting it, either before or after the graphic was posted, or because they found it on the website.
We’ve received your request for public records and will respond shortly.”
To date, the Contra Costa Health public information team has issued only one press release this year.
Methodology
The 2024 PIT Count methodology followed the Housing and Urban Development’s guidelines for a “night of” observational count followed by a random sample survey to gather demographic data and homeless experience.
Antioch Police officers place a stone into an evidence bag at the scene of the discovery of Raheem Coe’s body on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Photo courtesy of Art Ray Bay News Video. A memorial to Coe was placed at a nearby gas station. Photo by Katherine Wade. Source: Facing Homelessness in Antioch
Detectives seek public’s help; homeless advocates and friends share about 48-year-old Raheem Coe
“Raheem didn’t mess with nobody.” – longtime friend, Katherine Wade
By Allen D. Payton
On May 15, 2024, at approximately 7:19 AM, Antioch police officers responded to the 2200 block of Country Hills Drive to assist Contra Costa Fire on a reported male down on the sidewalk possibly in need of medical attention.
When officers arrived, they located a deceased male. He was later identified by Deputy Contra Costa County Coroner Sanchez as Raheem Coe, a 48-year-old man from Antioch. (See related article)
According to a press release issued Friday night, May 17, 2024 by Lt. Desmond Bittner of the Investigations Bureau, “Antioch Police Department detectives have continued to work diligently on this investigation over the past several days. After an autopsy and further investigation, the death has been determined to be a homicide. The victim frequented the area where he was discovered. Detectives are still asking the public for assistance as they continue to investigate.”
Independent reports from two sources claim Coe’s death was believed to be caused by blunt force trauma, including to his head and chest.
According to local homeless advocate Andrew Becker who knew Coe and had several interactions with him, “Raheem Coe was on the street for the last couple of years, in the Lone Tree-Deer Valley area. He’s had several interactions with City staff including being swept multiple times by Public Works and Code Enforcement.”
“We had several conversations about shelter and services, and he was seeking shelter,” Becker continued. “The last contact I had with him was a week-and-a-half ago. He did have contact with his family who are also local.”
“Due to the limited resources available, appropriate services were never offered to him,” Becker added. “This is the perfect example of a local family that needed strong, supportive services and resources but without a true, hands-on approach, he remained stuck in the cycle that the majority of unhoused residents are in, right now.”
incident, the organization’s leader, Nichole Gardner wrote, “This was one of our unhoused friends named Raheem that has been on the streets for years. Prayers for his friends and family.”
In a comment below the post Salim Coe wrote, “Raheem was my brother. Me and my family are very devastated.”
In a May 17th post on that same page Gardner wrote, “My heart has been heavy all day. I pray I will never have to know what it feels like to lose one of my sons. The heartfelt cries of Raheem’s mother have been with me all day. She is an older woman and just cried and cried to me on the phone. I can only hope I said the right thing and was supportive. I reached out to some amazing women who connected with her to give her support and called and visited with her. I am so heartbroken for his mom and brother who have no other family out here. Their family is in Ohio. She continuously said she just wanted to talk to someone. The pain in her heart was unbearable. Please God, help this mother and her family during this time. Please keep them in your prayers.”
Later Gardner posted, “Rest in Paradise Raheem. You will be missed” with a photo provided by Antioch resident Katherine Wade of a small memorial to Coe, placed at the gas station at the corner of Lone Tree Way and Mokelumne Drive, which includes a cross, two photos of him and a cup of coffee.
When reached for comment she said, “I didn’t know Raheem, but I know he was well-loved in the community. There are so many people who knew him.”
When reached for comment Wade shared, “Raheem was a good person, I’ve been knowing him for 12 years. He used to be with my son. Raheem didn’t mess with nobody. He wasn’t comfortable with people approaching him. He’s been to my house with my sons doing music in the garage. I used to feed him on the holidays. It hurts for someone to do him, like that.”
Gardner later shared, “His mother said her door was always open. She would bring him supplies and food and tell him he could come home anytime when he was ready to do so. She was crying with a broken heart, realizing the day she prayed for would never happen. She loved him dearly.”
Any information concerning the investigation can be directed to Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or by email: jcox@antiochca.gov. Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident – can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.
A Con Fire EMS ambulance was onsite, 18 vehicles were towed, and an Antioch Police Officer spoke with displaced resident named Harry during the homeless encampment abatement on Monday, April 8, 2024. Screenshot of video by Nichole Gardner
Some campers relocated from Wilbur Avenue cleanup in March; 18 vehicles with expired tags towed; police recover 3 stolen vehicles from location; advocate complains, acting city manager explains
By Allen D. Payton
Some of Antioch’s homeless residents living in campers and motor homes that were cleared from Wilbur Avenue on March 22, 2024, relocated to private property in Antioch off Laurel and Neroly Roads, in the land next to Highway 4 along the creek. Posts on social media on Monday, April 8, 2024, showed Antioch Police Officers on the scene clearing the new encampment. Accusations were made by both the unhoused that officers blocked in the campers, not allowing them to leave and instead, towed some of the vehicles.
Local homeless advocate, Nichole Gardner drove to the site during Monday’s abatement and spoke with one of the residents named Harry who said, “they gave us notice, then the blocked the gate not letting anyone get out.”
She also asked an officer why there were no members of Antioch’s Care Team on site at the time, referring to them as “the purple people” as they dress in purple-colored shirts. He directed her to speak to other City staff. Gardner posted two videos of her visit to the site. See video 1 & video 2. (WARNING: Graphic language)
City staff cleared the homeless encampment from private property off Laurel Road and Highway 4 on Monday, April 8, 2024. Screenshot of video by Nichole Gardner
Acting City Manager and Economic Development Director Kwame Reed was asked about the City’s efforts. In response he wrote, “The City of Antioch, along with our Contra Costa County partners, conducted an abatement operation that recovered stolen property and more than a dozen vehicles. The operation also allowed us to offer services to community members in a homeless encampment.
The encampment in the Lindsey Detention Basin has continued to grow over the past few months. In that time, officers recovered three stolen vehicles and located a stolen ATM.
On April 3rd, Antioch officers and the Angelo Quinto Community Response Team (“Care Team”) visited the area and met with nearly a dozen people at the encampment. Over the next few days, officers and the Care Team continued to check in and offer services.
During the operation, Code Enforcement, the Care Team, Public Works, and the County’s C.O.R.E. Outreach team worked together to conduct the abatement. 18 vehicles with expired vehicle registrations were towed. Officers located two striped motorcycles and an industrial floor sweeper, all suspected of being stolen.
Through this multi-faceted approach, we were able to clear the area of trash, debris, and abandoned vehicles. We want to thank our community partners for their support in this effort.”
Questions were sent Tuesday evening to Reed, Department of Public Safety and Community Resources Director Tasha Johnson and Jazmin Ridley, the City’s Unhoused Resident Coordinator.
They were asked:
Since the 18 vehicles were towed, where are the homeless residents expected to live until they can pay the registration, towing and storage fees to recover them? Won’t they end up on city streets living in tents instead?
Also, couldn’t the City provide at least the vehicle registration fees from some of the funds in the budget for unhoused residents, as one way to help them stay off the street?
While the land in the Lindsey Detention Basin is privately owned, it appears some of the homeless residents living in RV’s relocated from Wilbur Avenue following the abatement there on March 22, isn’t the result of the City’s actions simply moving them from place to place, since the City has no place for them to locate?
What is the City doing to provide for a location for homeless residents – as was previously proposed on city-owned property such as the lot on Fitzuren Road when the City had the five state-donated trailers – to live in their RV’s while working with the county’s CORE team to help them move into permanent housing?
Or is the City merely hoping they will relocate out of Antioch?
Finally, what services did Antioch’s Care Team and the county’s CORE Team provide to the residents?
Attempts to reach Gardner for additional comment were unsuccessful prior to publication time.
Please check back later for any responses to this report.
Before, During & After Wilbur Avenue homeless encampment cleanup. Campers and vehicles on March 4, 2024. Source: Video screenshot courtesy of ContraCosta.news. RV towed and City of Antioch workers during clean up on March 19, 2024. Photos courtesy of Mike Burkholder. Photos following the cleanup. Source: City of Antioch.
“No other areas were suggested for them in Antioch or elsewhere.” – Acting City Manager Kwame Reed
Homeless advocates not happy they weren’t notified to be there to help the residents
“…they have just displaced these souls with absolutely no solution as to where they should go” – Nichole Gardner
By Allen D. Payton
On Tuesday morning, March 19, 2024, City of Antioch staff cleared out 70 vehicles and “approximately 100” people from the eastern end of Wilbur Avenue near Hwy 160, between the power plant and vineyards.
A post on the City’s Facebook page reads, “Teaming up to revitalize our community.
Today, numerous City departments partnered to clean up Wilbur Avenue. With a coordinated effort that included our Code Enforcement team, Police Department, Public Works, Public Safety & Community Resources Department, the Angelo Quinto Crisis Response Team (AQCRT), Parking Enforcement, and Antioch Animal Services the Wilbur Avenue area has been abated. In total, 70 vehicles were cleared, and support services were offered to people and pets at the location. Together, we can make a difference!
We would also like to thank our Contra Costa County partners for their support leading up to today.”
Questions were emailed Tuesday after work hours to Public Safety and Community Resources Department Tasha Johnson and Unhoused Resident Coordinator Jazmin Ridley. They were asked how many individuals were living there and how many of them were school-aged children.
They were also asked if another location in Antioch or elsewhere has been offered for the motorhomes and campers. Finally, they were asked what “support services were offered to people and pets at the location” as written in the post. But neither responded. On Wednesday, the questions were then sent again to them and Acting City Manager Kwame Reed.
On Friday, March 22, Reed responded there were “approximately 100” people moved from the Wilbur Avenue encampment. But he shared that information on the number of school-aged children “was not tracked.”
Reed also said, “No other areas were suggested for them in Antioch or elsewhere.” Yet, “over the past 2-3 weeks, staff in association with the Care Team and County’s CORE (Coordinated Outreach Referral, Engagement) Team, visited the location to provide assistance.”
The Antioch Care Team (ACT) was formed in 2021 “to reduce non‐warrant arrests that result during a 911 response; reduce the number of individuals transported to the emergency department for non-life threatening medical-related issues that could instead be addressed in a prehospital care setting; and reduce the number of behavioral health and lower acuity medical calls traditionally responded to by Police and Fire.”
It’s now referred to as the AQCRT.
Advocates Not Happy They Weren’t Informed
In addition, local volunteer homeless advocates, Andrew Becker and Nichole Gardner were asked if they were aware of the cleanup before it occurred and for their comments on the City’s efforts.
Gardner responded, “No. It was unfortunate too because our team would have gladly helped with making sure that the folks that were there knew that the city was clearing out the area (if they did not receive a proper notice) and would have been there to support by supplying bags and helping them pack up their belongings. We could have also provided food, drinks and supplies as it takes a physical toll on folks having to move everything they had on short notice.”
“We know that these sweeps that the city does causes emotional and physical trauma to people in encampments who are dealing with mental illness and hoarding disorders,” she continued. “We have seen individuals break down in tears because they are so emotionally attached to their items.”
“One of the lieutenants at APD used to call us to let us know when there would be a big sweep such as this, we were surprised that he did not reach out after knowing such a large sweep was going to take place,” Gardner shared. “I was told that APD was there which I was confused about because we have the Mental Health Crisis Response team (purple people) for a reason. There was no crime being committed so therefore I don’t know why we are wasting police resources on clearing out encampments, especially when we are lacking so many officers. “
“I am not naïve to think that this area did not need a good cleaning,” she stated. “Some people in encampments tend to suffer from hoarding disorders and hoard things that others consider garbage, but I am disappointed that when these clean ups take place, they not only don’t have a place for people to go for shelter but no safe parking lot for these RV’s. What is more upsetting is that they show up with tow trucks to tow away the only place that they call home and leave them to be in the elements without shelter.”
“It was sickening seeing the City Facebook page about how they cleared the area. The city bragged about cleaning up the area to appease the community members while forgetting that they have just displaced these souls with absolutely no solution as to where they should go,” the local homeless advocate said. “We need a safe parking lot for these RV’s with staff to be sure that they are maintained and people are not bringing in anything that does not fit in their RV.”
“If the city spent more time focusing on being proactive by putting money into mental health, affordable housing, shelters, and safe parking with porta potties and dumpsters and stop spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year into cleaning up encampments all over the city we wouldn’t be in this situation,” Gardner added.
Becker responded, “I was not aware of the abatement that took place, no notice was given by the City to advocates, locally. We had multiple conversations with the City, previously regarding abatements. We had been told we would be notified as well as CORE.”
“When I arrived at the site at 12:30 pm, 90% of the individuals and their property had been removed,” he continued. “CORE was not on site, only APD and neighboring law enforcement agencies. Beyond the update the City posted online, I have no knowledge of what resources were made available. I also do not know whether individuals’ items were stored or disposed of. There were no alternative temporary encampment locations made available to the residents to my knowledge.”
Later, in response to the information provided by Reed, Becker asked, “Does that assistance mean placement? How many of those people were placed?”
“There were limited services. They said Animal Services was out there. But I had to wrangle two chickens, myself and took them to Animal Services,” he added.
