Fresno receives $10.9M grant to tackle homelessness
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Governor Gavin Newsom, joined by Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and other state leaders, announced nearly $192 million in Encampment Resolution Fund grants for the state of California.
Governor Newsom announced the allocation of nearly $20 million in grants to the Central Valley and stressed the seriousness of homelessness in the state.
“People are dying on our watch. People are dying on the streets. And we all have a responsibility to do better,” Governor Newsom said. “192 million dollars for the 17 communities. We have two, what we call COC’s five counties and then ten cities that are beneficiaries.”
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer noted a 5.6% decrease in Fresno’s homeless population from 2022 to 2023. The city is now due to receive $10.9 million from the funding award.
“This third round of funding, we’re going to be able to expand our area of service north of our downtown area. We’ve already cleaned up our freeways. We have no homeless people on our freeways in all of Fresno and I’m proud of that,” Mayor Dyer said.
The city of Los Banos will get nearly $12 million. The rationale behind the distribution of funds was not discussed. Governor Newsom even took time to give Mayor Dyer major props for the job he has been doing in the city of Fresno.
“Jerry does not need to be told that, he’s done an extraordinary job in Fresno,” Governor Newsom said.
However, according to a recent audit, California has not properly tracked the $24 billion it has spent in the past five years to combat homelessness. With this new grant, Mayor Dyer is already outlining its use.
“Funding will add 30 emergency shelter beds, some on-site mental health services, and housing stability case savers. We’ll also continue to provide 65 emergency shelter beds,” Mayor Dyer said.
The founder of a local homelessness service is not buying the mayor’s words.
“I have not had confidence in the way that Fresno has been utilizing or spending the funds that they have received already,” We Are Not Invisible Founder Dez Martinez said.
Martinez says there is still more work that needs to be done in Fresno.
“I would like to see compassion. I would like to see honesty. I would like to see housing. I would like to see beds available. I would like to see individuals not have their only survival gear thrown in a dumpster,” Martinez said.
