City granted $11.8 million from state program – more than Oakland and Fresno; plans to build 51-unit housing project with services
By Allen D. Payton
Following last Thursday’s announcement of Gov. Newsom’s executive order directing state agencies to cleanup homeless encampments, city council and staff members were asked what it means for Los Banos. They were also asked what they have done, are doing and will do to implement two parts of the order, numbers 2 and 3, directed at local governments. (See related article)
In response, Mayor Paul Llanez shared what the city is doing and about the $11.8 million state Encampment Relief Grant the city will be receiving to help address the homeless issue in town.
The governor’s four-part order reads as follows:
“1) Agencies and departments subject to my authority shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy. Such policies shall include the following:
a. Whenever feasible, site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment.
b. Where exigent circumstances exist, as much advance notice to vacate as reasonable under the circumstances.
c. Where no exigent circumstances exist, posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal
d. Contacting of service providers to request outreach services for persons experiencing homelessness at the encampment.
e. Collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard.
2) All departments and agencies not under my authority are requested to adopt policies consistent with the guidelines in Paragraph 1.
3) Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.
4) The California Interagency Council on Homelessness shall develop guidance and provide technical assistance consistent with this Order for local governments to follow in implementing their local homelessness programs.”
Included in the emailed questions were City Manager Josh Pinheiro, Police Chief Ray Reyna and Community and Economic Development Department Director Stacy Souza-Elms.
Mayor Says City Granted $11.8 Million Encampment Relief Grant for 51-Unit Tiny Home Development
Llanez shared the details of what , “While the State issues this executive order regarding State property, I am happy to share all of the things Los Banos has been doing behind the scenes in anticipation of both the Supreme Court’s decision and this action taken by our governor.”
“We were fortunate to have been awarded an $11.8 million dollar encampment relief grant and are still waiting to receive the funds,” he continued referring to the state’s Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program. “In the meantime, city staff have been working diligently on the strategic planning for these funds to be used on a fifty-one-unit housing development, with wrap around services, to support our homeless community. While working on that project, our city has been able to utilize bridge homes within our city as temporary housing for those in need and currently they are at full capacity.”
“The prior city council approved two homeless advocacy positions for which our current city manager then recruited and hired two outstanding people, who have been working tirelessly to help provide documentation and resources to a number of unhoused individuals,” Llanez stated. “They have helped reunite family members in other states and have issued vouchers to homeless veterans to give them much needed support.”
“In May of this year, the city manager and I traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for additional homeless resources including access to more veteran housing vouchers,” the mayor said. “The two city employees were also responsible for the ERF grant in which we were awarded more funds than Oakland and Fresno.”
“Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, we created a large, temporary area next to our Police Department for our homeless community to utilize as a designated safe space. At the same time, city staff and our city attorney have been working on the process to update our city municipal code to ensure we address encampments and help clean up our city. The recent Supreme Court ruling will help give us the tools needed to make this process work,” Llanez added.”
“I am proud of all of the efforts and long hours by our city staff to work on this issue. It doesn’t happen overnight. But with the goal-oriented team of people from our Housing Division, Police Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement team, Community and Economic Development Department and Public Works Department, all led by our City Manager Josh Pinheiro, things are getting done. City staff are all working together to make a huge impact our community will be able to see regarding the homeless crisis,” the mayor concluded.
According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the state’s ERF Program, “is a competitive grant available for Counties, CoCs (Continuums of Care), and cities of any size that aims to (1) assist local jurisdictions in ensuring the safety and wellness of people experiencing homelessness in encampments; (2) resolve critical encampment concerns and transition individuals into safe and stable housing; and (3) encourage a data-informed, coordinated approach.”
The department is part of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency which awards the grants.
According to an April 22, 2024, ABC30 news report following the council’s vote, “The spending plan includes dozens of tiny homes” and Llanez said, “This is going to help house 95 people. And so, this is something that’s really going to be an effort that you’re going to be able to see. You’re going to be able to see those results.” The mayor also said there were 121 unhoused people in Los Banos at that time.