The Los Angeles region will receive more than $380 million for efforts to reduce homelessness , part of a program providing $827 million in grants across California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced.
Appearing with Mayor Karen Bass at the Downtown Women’s Center in the city’s Skid Row area on Tuesday, the governor said the funding is part of the fifth round of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program. A sixth round was approved in June, which will contribute an additional $1 billion in investments at a future date.
Of the $380.36 million, about $160 million will directly support the city of Los Angeles, another $97 million will go toward the county of L.A., and the remaining funds will support local jurisdictions such as Long Beach, Pasadena and Glendale.
“No one is naïve about the challenge of the issue,” Newsom said. “No one is denying how angry people are, how frustrated they are, and how heartbroken they are.”
Newsom said the state created the HHAP program during the latter part of former Gov. Jerry Brown’s tenure, after mayors of the state’s 13 largest cities called for appropriate resources to address homelessness. The program initially provided $500 million with “no accountability and no expectations.”