OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The City of Oceanside accepted more than $11 million to help address homelessness. The money will be used to clean up encampments around Buena Vista Creek and State Route 78.
"I don't think we've ever received $11 million for an encampment project so this is amazing," said Mayor Esther Sanchez.
Oceanside City Council unanimously approved the $11.3 million grant to help address the homeless crisis.
"It's a stockpile of different encampments, a flood zone, very high risk for fires and also a natural preserve it's very important we address," said Salvador Roman, the project manager.
He says they believe more than 200 people are living in the encampments. The City of Carlsbad will be helping the City of Oceanside. The grant will create a three-year program.
"Services include interim shelter options. Leveraging La Posada in Carlsbad and leveraging the navigation center from the city of Oceanside, and bringing on new programs motel voucher program and other transitional housing options," he said.
He says they'll bring on 14 new staff including substance use professionals and clinicians. They'll work to get people out of the encampments and connected with services.
"We will be providing to them every single opportunity to get help and get to the next step of housing so if it does come to that point where we need to use enforcement then it won't be because of lack of effort," he said.
He's hopeful the $11 million dollars will make a big impact in the community.
"It's really having the resources that we need to finally make a difference," he said.
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