State Funding Awarded to Pasadena to Address Homeless Encampments

The Pasadena Housing Department has been awarded over $2 million in new funding under the California Encampment Resolution Grant Program, administered by the state’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

The grant fuding will be used to fund seven programs, including street outreach, motel vouchers, and housing navigation for up to 50 people per year who are living in 10 prioritized encampments along the 210 and 134 freeways.

William K. Huang, Pasadena’s Director of Housing, said the program awarded under this grant will be carried out by the Pasadena Public Health Department and Union Station Homeless Services.

The California Encampment Resolution Grant Program aims to provide funding to local governments to address homelessness and encampments in their communities. The Pasadena Housing Department’s successful grant application will help provide much-needed services and support to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

The street outreach component of this program will be leveraged from the City’s PORT (Pasadena Outreach Response Team) and HOPE (Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Evaluation) teams, operated by the Public Health, Fire and Police departments, respectively. 

Huang added the Public Health Department and Union Station Homeless Services will both administer motel vouchers. Union Station will provide the housing navigation services.

The existing partnerships the Department of Housing has with these entities, as well as Caltrans, will enable the services to begin promptly following an executed contract with the state, Huang said. 

The city’s statement said this funding award is “an exciting new opportunity for the City to better serve the unhoused population.” 

“The Housing Department is eager to begin collaborating with our internal and external partners to provide shelter and housing navigation resources to move people indoors and prevent them from returning to dangerous living conditions,” the statement added.