Governor Newsom awards $130.7 million in Round 3 of program to help 18 California communities

Also creating a collaborative program between the state and targeted communities to streamline the cleanup of encampments

SACRAMENTO – Oct. 4, 2024 — Expanding the state’s unprecedented support for local communities to create new housing and address homelessness, Governor Newsom announced Friday, the state is awarding $130.7 million to 18 local governments to clear homeless encampments and provide shelter, care and support. The grants are from Round 3 of the Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) awards from the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Governor also announced new accountability measures, requiring award recipients 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.

The Round 3 funds awarded Friday will go to 12 cities, four counties and two Continuums of Care (CoCs) and are intended to resolve critical encampment concerns and address the housing and health and safety needs of 3,364 people living in encampments, and permanently house 1,565 people.

Of the total amount, the City of Antioch will receive $6,812,686, the City of Richmond was awarded $9,336,746 and the County of Contra Costa was granted $5,708,516. Of the 18 agencies, Contra Costa County scored the highest followed by Richmond.

“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,” said Governor Newsom.

$1 billion in funding to clear encampments

Governor Newsom has made unprecedented investments to address the housing and homelessness crises, with $40 billion invested to help communities create more housing and $27 billion provided to communities for homelessness. Today’s new grants are part of the state’s $1 billion Encampment Resolution Funds (ERF), which help communities address dangerous encampments and support people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

So far, the program has invested $737 million for 109 projects or encampments across 21 counties, 41 cities and 5 CoCs to help 20,888 people throughout the state, helping 20,888 people transition out of homelessness.

“These grants will ensure local communities take a person-centered, trauma-informed approach as they help their most vulnerable residents transition to safe and stable housing,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “The Encampment Resolution Fund grants are infusing critical resources in communities up and down California so that unhoused Californians can access the essential housing and supportive services they need to achieve long-term stability.”

Greater accountability 

As a condition of receiving the funding, the awardees must agree to increased accountability and compliance measures. These new accountability measures build on the current requirements that all grantees adhere to state and federal laws, rules, and regulations related to construction, health and safety, labor, fair employment practices, environmental protection, equal opportunity, fair housing, and all other matters applicable and/or related to the ERF program. 

The Governor’s new measures expressly require local governments to maintain a compliant housing element, as well as adhere to all planning, permitting, entitlement, fair housing, and homelessness laws.

Non-compliance with these measures may result in the state revoking and clawing back awarded funds in addition to potential enforcement actions by the state’s Housing Accountability Unit. This ensures that grant recipients remain accountable and protects state funding.

Care, compassion, collaboration 

Today’s announcement follows the Governor’s executive order urging local governments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (CalTrans) existing encampment policy. 

Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.

Since July 2021, California has cleared more than 12,000 encampments and has removed 267,611 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects.

Delegated Maintenance Agreements

The Governor also announced today a new collaborative program that will help streamline the cleanup of encampments by establishing agreements between the state and targeted local communities. The agreements will remove jurisdictional boundaries and allow locals to address encampments on state property and receive reimbursement for their efforts. 

To help provide additional guidance and direction for local governments, the California Interagency Council on Homelessness has posted webinars and resources to help communities address encampments.   

Below are the other 10 cities, three counties and two Continuums of Care awarded Round 3 ERF grants:

• 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 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 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

“Our team is energized by this opportunity to help bring people-centered, Housing First solutions to Californians who are unsheltered throughout the state,” said Gustavo Velasquez, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which has administered ERF since the start of the 2024-25 fiscal year. “Combined with the investments in permanent supportive housing made possible by voter approval of Proposition 1, the state has unprecedented momentum to make monumental progress on a crisis of homelessness that has been growing for decades.”

The awards announced Friday utilize all remaining FY 2023-24 ERF funds. An additional appropriation of $150 million in the FY 2024-25 State Budget allowed HCD to award all eligible ERF Round 3, Window 2 applicants. The budget also included $100 million in ERF funds for FY 2025-26, bringing to $1 billion this investment to address encampments through proven housing solutions. 

Each agency was required to apply for the ERF program.

The grants will provide stable, safe housing for individuals living in encampments in their respective communities. The awarded proposals will assist individuals living in encampments with compassion and dignity by providing a range of housing solutions: permanent housing; interim housing for individuals seeking coordinated entry system resources or housing vouchers; housing navigation services and rapid rehousing subsidies; support for accessing permanent housing by providing security deposits and other moving expenses; and allowing awardees to acquire property for housing. 

Pablo Espinoza, Deputy Director of Communications, CA Department of HCD Media and Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Following U.S. Supreme Court ruling

Encourages local governments to adopt similar policies

“We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.” – Gov. Newsom

What you need to know: Governor Newsom today issued an executive order directing state agencies to urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and safety of Californians experiencing homelessness. The Governor’s order, which follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass, also urges local governments to use substantial funding provided by the state to take similar action.

SACRAMENTO, CA — Building on California’s ongoing work and unprecedented investments to address the decades-long issue of homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today ordering state agencies and departments to adopt clear policies that urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and well-being of all Californians.

With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v Johnson, local governments now have the tools and authority to address dangerous encampments and help provide those residing in encampments with the resources they need.

“This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same. The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.” said Newsom. “We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.”

The governor’s executive order directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property, including by taking necessary and deliberate steps to notify and support the people inhabiting the encampment prior to removal.

Governor Newsom has made record-level investments to address the housing crisis, investing over $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including billions of dollars in funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and wrap-around support to people living in encampments. In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, these investments helped lift more than 165,000 people out of homelessness and into interim or permanent housing. 

California blueprint

Governor Newsom’s order directs state agencies and departments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) existing encampment policy. Since July 2021, California has resolved more than 11,000 encampments, and has removed 248,275 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects. Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.

The order encourages local governments to emulate the state’s successful model to adopt local policies and to use all available resources, including those provided by the state’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs, to address encampments within their jurisdictions. 

Proposition 1 funding available for local governments

Governor Newsom also encourages local governments to apply for the newly available $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding from Proposition 1 to expand the behavioral health continuum and provide appropriate care to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders — with a particular focus on people who are most seriously ill, vulnerable, or homeless.

Proposition 1 includes two parts: a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for treatment settings and housing with services, and historic reform of the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, substance disorders, and housing needs. The state also recently released the Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Services Act: Housing Supports Primer (July 2024) for counties, which explains how to spend the projected $950 million annual BHSA revenue on housing interventions.

Unprecedented investments to support communities

Governor Newsom is tackling California’s homelessness crisis head-on. Since he took office, the state  has developed a Statewide Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness and the Governor has demanded unprecedented accountability from local governments to do their part to end the homelessness crisis through regionally coordinated action plans. The Governor has also pioneered nation-leading homeless and housing reforms and invested more than $24 billion to address this crisis with state and local support, including $4.85 billion for Homeless, Housing Assistance and Prevention Grants for local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion for Homekey to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness.

See Newsom’s announcement video on X.

A copy of today’s executive order can be found here and here:

EXECUTIVE ORDER N-1-24

WHEREAS California is experiencing a homelessness crisis decades in the making, with over 180,000 people estimated to have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023, including 123,000 people who experienced unsheltered homelessness, living in tents, trailers, and vehicles across the state; and WHEREAS within the first year of my Administration I fast-tracked the development of shelter through Executive Order N-23-20, which directed departments to assess and facilitate the use of available state land and resources for short-term emergency homeless shelters; and WHEREAS since the beginning of my Administration, the State has made unprecedented investments to address the homelessness crisis head on, investing more than $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including $4.85 billion in flexible funding to local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness through Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness through Homekey; and

WHEREAS the State has redoubled its commitment to holding local jurisdictions accountable to reduce homelessness, including by strengthening and enforcing requirements that local jurisdictions plan for their fair share of housing and by conditioning state homelessness funding on rigorous reporting and measurable performance metrics; and

WHEREAS it is imperative to act with urgency to address dangerous encampments, which subject unsheltered individuals living in them to extreme weather, fires, predatory and criminal activity, and widespread substance use, harming their health, safety, and well-being, and which also threaten the safety and viability of nearby businesses and neighborhoods and undermine the cleanliness and usability of parks, water supplies, and other public resources; and

WHEREAS while every jurisdiction must do more to address encampments, state and local agencies taking proactive steps to remove encampments have been stymied in those efforts by lawsuits and injunctions, leaving officials without the tools or guidance necessary to address the crisis on their streets; and

WHEREAS in September 2023, I called on the United States Supreme Court to grant review in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson to clarify that state and local officials can take reasonable actions to resolve encampments while respecting the humanity of all Californians; and

WHEREAS in June 2024 the Supreme Court overturned Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent that restricted the government’s authority to enforce laws regulating encampments, recognizing that jurisdictions may tailor their enforcement practices to reflect policy-driven approaches to addressing homelessness; and

WHEREAS with the threat of these types of injunctions removed, there is no longer any barrier to local governments utilizing the substantial resources provided by the State, in tandem with federal and local resources, to address encampments with both urgency and humanity, or excuse for not doing so; and WHEREAS guidelines that prioritize offers of shelter and services as a first step to resolving any encampment best respect the dignity of every Californian and provide meaningful paths to ending homelessness; and

WHEREAS the California Interagency Council on Homelessness leads California’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness; and

WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation maintains a policy directive that prioritizes removal of encampments that pose threats to life, health, and safety, while partnering with local governments and nonprofit providers to facilitate offers of shelter and supportive services in advance of a removal; and WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation has, since July 2021, removed 11,188 encampments and 248,275 cubic yards of debris from these encampments along the state rights of way.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1) Agencies and departments subject to my authority shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy. Such policies shall include the following:

a. Whenever feasible, site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment.

b. Where exigent circumstances exist, as much advance notice to vacate as reasonable under the circumstances.

c. Where no exigent circumstances exist, posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal

 d. Contacting of service providers to request outreach services for persons experiencing homelessness at the encampment.

e. Collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard.

2) All departments and agencies not under my authority are requested to adopt policies consistent with the guidelines in Paragraph 1.

3) Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.

4) The California Interagency Council on Homelessness shall develop guidance and provide technical assistance consistent with this Order for local governments to follow in implementing their local homelessness programs.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order. This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 25th day of July.

GAVIN NEWSOM

Governor of California

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

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.” 

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. 

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.”

Read the Bond Report and learn more about the bond measure, here and here.

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.

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.”

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.

Hope Solutions provided a presentation in February 2023 to the city council about their proposed tiny home project in Antioch. The organization broke ground on another Hope Village last fall at Grace Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek.

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.”

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.

See the complete staff report and resolutions on the item.

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 had approximately $7.3 million available 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.

Watch the council meeting via livestream on the City’s website or live on Comcast channel 24, AT&T U-verse channel 99.  See the council meeting agenda packet.

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).

While the proponents of the initiative, Californians for Safer Communities labeled it The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act. But Attorney General Rob Bonta’s official title and summary of the measure is as follows: ALLOWS FELONY CHARGES AND INCREASES SENTENCES FOR CERTAIN DRUG AND THEFT CRIMES. INITIATIVE STATUTE.

– 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.

For more information about how an initiative qualifies for the ballot in California, visit https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/how-qualify-initiative/

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

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.

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.

For more information about homeless services in the county see the Continuum of Care and the Contra Costa Health Services’ Health, Housing & Homeless Programs (H3).

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

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.