Gov. Newsom: $52 million for housing, infrastructure upgrades, and assistance for the homeless across California
California – California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced an additional round of financing to help build communities across California. More than $52 million will go to housing, infrastructure upgrades, and assistance for the homeless. The funding will help 90 projects in 53 counties, and they will reach communities throughout the state through a mix of federal Community Development Block awards and 2024 Emergency Solutions Grants.
The 2024 Community Development Block Grant program gives the most money. It will help 38 projects in 20 counties. More than 160,000 people in California could benefit from these awards, which will improve essential infrastructure like sewer systems and streets, upgrade public buildings, and make it easier for people to get to parks and other recreational areas. A number of awards also focus on planning and technical help to get communities ready for future growth and infrastructure requirements.
Some of the CDBG money goes to public programs that help low- and moderate-income residents, in addition to infrastructure expenditures. Eighteen awards for $4.6 million will pay for programs like shelters for victims of domestic abuse, help finding housing for homeless persons, support services for veterans with mental health issues, and nutrition and food access initiatives for seniors. Other agencies that get money include food banks, help with transportation, and help with utility bills.
The announcement also includes $14.3 million in Emergency Solutions Grants awarded to 52 projects serving 36 counties. The funds give local governments and social providers the freedom to directly address homelessness. ESG supports actions including reaching out to people who are homeless, making emergency shelters better, quickly rehousing people, and programs that help people and families keep their homes.
A number of projects show the different types of investments that the awards enable. Some of the projects that will get money are an economic development loan program in Crescent City, a program to help people buy homes in Ukiah, and big enhancements to public buildings in Capitola, Eureka, and Oroville. In Dinuba, King, and Marysville, infrastructure projects will improve the streets and sewers. Planning grants will help cities in Northern and Central California come up with better long-term development plans.
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Imperial County got full funding for two applications that were focused on helping colonias, which are rural towns near the U.S.-Mexico border that typically don’t have enough infrastructure. One project will put in generators and improve the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in community centers so they can keep running during bad weather and power outages. Another will update the Colonias Master Plan for the county to help plan future upgrades to public facilities and infrastructure.
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State officials stressed that the money is part of a larger plan to improve quality of life while also addressing housing shortages and homelessness. The administration wants to help disadvantaged individuals while keeping communities stable, resilient, and ready for future expansion by combining infrastructure improvements with targeted services and measures to avoid homelessness.
