Less than two weeks after a fire broke out at a major homeless encampment, 70 unhoused residents in Redwood City will be getting state funds to support their relocation, according to a news release.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he will grant $50 million to 19 communities throughout California to provide shelter or housing for 1,401 individuals currently experiencing homelessness in encampments. This includes a $1.8 million grant to rehouse 70 individuals in Redwood City.
The governor visited the Redwood City encampment on Woodside Road and El Camino Wednesday, where the recent fire took place, to join Caltrans in an organized clean-up or “relocation” effort.
“We appreciate Gov. Newsom’s leadership and support to help end homelessness,” said Redwood City Mayor Giselle Hale, who was also in attendance. “Redwood City will continue to collaborate with all levels of government in urgently providing services and finding long term solutions.”
No one was injured in the Feb. 13 encampment fire, but the city issued a statement calling on Caltrans to take “immediate action to prevent future incidents.”
There are two other encampments near the Woodside Road/El Camino Real cloverleaf that have been identified by Caltrans for clean-up, likely in the next 2-3 weeks. Caltrans is also planning an upcoming coordination meeting with Redwood City, the San Mateo County Continuum of Care and other staff for state-elected officials, according to a Caltrans media representative. The meeting date has not yet been set.
In September 2021, Gov. Newsom set a goal of cleaning 100 encampments. Since then, the state has cleaned 431 encampments, working with local governments to offer housing and services to former residents. The state is on course to clear 1,000 encampments by the end of 2022.
“Tackling the homelessness crisis is a matter of life and death,” said Newsom. “California is taking on the unacceptable status quo with a historic response to house thousands of our most vulnerable community members at an unprecedented rate, and swiftly addressing the encampments that pose the greatest threat to health and safety.”
The Governor’s multi-year homeless housing plan will provide 55,000 new housing units and treatment slots, once fully implemented.
The other following cities and counties were awarded grants Thursday:
- Santa Barbara County – $2.5 million to rehouse 200 individuals
- San Bernardino County – $1.7 million to rehouse 150 individuals
- City of Richmond – $4.8 million to rehouse 102 individuals
- City of Fresno – $5 million to rehouse 100 individuals
- City of Oakland – $4.7 million to rehouse 100 individuals
- City of San Jose – $2 million to rehouse 100 individuals
- Santa Cruz County – $2.3 million to rehouse 65 individuals
- Orange County – $3.6 million to rehouse 60 individuals
- City of Los Angeles – $1.7 million to rehouse 60 individuals
- City of Petaluma – $1.3 million to rehouse 60 individuals
- City of Tulare – $1.5 million to rehouse 57 individuals
- City of Salinas – $4 million to rehouse 55 individuals
- City of Eureka – $1.6 million to rehouse 50 individuals
- City of Berkeley – $4.7 million to rehouse 45 individuals
- City of Long Beach – $1.3 million to rehouse 40 individuals
- City of Vista – $1.8 million to rehouse 35 individuals
- City of San Rafael – $522 thousand to rehouse 34 individuals
- Marin County – $317 thousand to rehouse 18 individuals
