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City of Petaluma Receives $8 Million Award from Governor’s Office for Encampment Resolution and Homeless Services
October 4, 2024 – The City of Petaluma is honored to announce it has been awarded $8 million from the Office of the Governor as part of a larger $1.3 billion initiative to help communities across California house individuals living in encampments. This funding, awarded through the Encampment Resolution Fund, will significantly advance the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness and improve housing opportunities for its most vulnerable residents.
The $8 million grant will bolster Petaluma’s comprehensive Strategic Plan to End Homelessness, adopted in 2022. The Strategic Plan sets a bold vision for achieving functional zero homelessness by the end of 2025. It focuses on developing a crisis response system that ensures homelessness in the city becomes rare, brief, and non-recurring.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from Governor Newsom’s office,” said Mayor Kevin McDonnell. “This funding will provide the City with the resources needed to make meaningful strides in tackling homelessness, helping us transition individuals from encampments into safe, stable housing.”
The grant award of $8,098,978 will allow the City to launch the 3-year Petaluma 101 Encampment Resolution Project. This initiative is designed to address key barriers to housing for individuals living in encampments and represents a comprehensive approach to resolving homelessness through targeted outreach, enhanced shelter capacity, and ongoing support and case management for individuals transitioning into permanent housing.
The project’s goal is to transition 100 individuals from prioritized encampment sites, specifically targeting six encampments near Highway 101. These sites share similar demographics and service needs, allowing outreach teams to work effectively across the locations. The project will provide these individuals with enriched case management support, create additional shelter spaces, and offer comprehensive services once individuals secure permanent housing.
With these funds, the City will be able to:
- Expand Emergency Shelter Capacity: Increase the number of beds and lockers at existing shelters (Mary Isaak Center and Kids First).
- Subsidize Operating Costs: Support interim shelters like Peoples Village and Mary Isaak
- Increase Permanent Supportive Housing Units: Partner with affordable housing developers for new units becoming available from 2024 to early 2026.
- Contract for Housing-Focused Outreach: Engage teams dedicated to housing problem-solving.
- Provide Clinical Behavioral Health Support: Ensure access to mental health services for encampment residents.
- Offer Medium-Term Rental Assistance: Provide up to 24 months of support for those without housing vouchers.
- Staff Housing Retention Case Managers: Hire new staff to support residents in maintaining stability after moving into permanent housing.
We are delighted to have such strong partners in the fight against homelessness in our many outstanding nonprofits, including HomeFirst, Petaluma Peoples Services (PPSC), Committee on the Shelterless (COTS), Rebuilding Together (RBT), Downtown Streets Team (DST), and more. These funds will allow the City to continue to invest in their work and expand their capacity as we work towards our goal of ending homelessness in Petaluma.
The Encampment Resolution Fund is part of Governor Newsom’s broader efforts to combat homelessness in California. Across the state, communities are receiving targeted funds to resolve homeless encampments, create safer living environments, and deliver services tailored to local needs. Petaluma is proud to be part of this larger effort, leveraging state resources to make a local impact.
“We are committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has a safe place to call home,” added City Manager Peggy Flynn. “This award will help us scale up our existing programs and bring innovative new solutions to the table.”
The City encourages residents to stay informed and get involved. The Pathway to Housing program invites community members to provide feedback on ongoing initiatives and contribute to solutions that make Petaluma a safe, inclusive place for all.
To learn more about Petaluma’s Strategic Plan to End Homelessness and upcoming community meetings, please visit the City’s website at cityofpetaluma.org.
For press inquiries, please contact Jamieson Bunn, Communications Program Manager, City of Petaluma, at [email protected].