On Wednesday, Governor Newsom
announced the latest grants awarded through the Encampment
Resolution Funding (ERF) Program, totaling $199 million in
funding for 23 projects across the state. Approximately half of
the projects target encampments along state rights-of way. Of the
awards, ten counties will receive nearly $120 million in grant
funding to address specific encampments and move unhoused
community members into safe housing. Other awardees
include cities and a continuum of care.
The ERF Program was first authorized in 2021 through
AB 140, which allocated $50 million to assist local
jurisdictions and continuums of care resolve large encampments
and transition individuals into safe and stable housing.
The Program has since grown to a total of nearly $350 million in
competitive grants, with an additional $400 million proposed in
this year’s
budget.
Additional information can be found on the webpage of the
California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CalICH), who is
charged with administering and overseeing the grant program.
