Additional Funds Provided for Housing the Homeless

Gov. George Deukmejian, following the recommendations in the Department of Housing and Community Development’s recent report, has provided an additional $8 million for California’s homeless.

The report recommended provision of $5 million for the Emergency Shelter Program and $3 million for the Special User Housing Rehabilitation Program.

The $8 million will be added to the proposed 1985-86 budget, complementing the $12 million that had been appropriated during the first two years of the Deukmejian Administration to address shelter needs, according to Susan DeSantis, department director.

DeSantis said the additional $5 million for emergency shelters will provide an additional 1.4 million “shelter days” during the next four fiscal years. So far, the Administration has provided $7.5 million for that purpose.

She added that the $3 million residential hotel program (special user housing rehabilitation) increase will rehabilitate 527 residential hotel units during the next fiscal year.