County Approves $10 Million for Cities to Address Homelessness

A new grant program that makes $10 million available to cities for new emergency housing projects was approved Tuesday by the County Board of Supervisors.

The Capital Emergency Housing Solutions Grant Program is part of the County's Framework for Ending Homelessness which was approved by the Board last year. Funds from the program will be available to projects in the region's 18 incorporated cities.

"We are excited to invite our community partners to submit creative proposals that help address homelessness in their cities," said Barbara Jiménez, community operations officer, County Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities. "We look forward to working with partners and to the creation of new sustainable overnight shelter solutions for people experiencing homelessness."

Program funds are intended as initial investments for new emergency housing projects, including shelters, safe parking lots, sleeping cabins, tiny homes, and/or expanded capacity of existing emergency shelters.

The program is expected to be up and running within the next couple of weeks. The County will individually notify all eligible jurisdictions once the application window opens.