Press Releases

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal announced two new federal grants that will support housing and homelessness assistance programs on the Central Coast.

Ventura County is receiving $159,047 and San Luis Obispo County is receiving $107,949 in federal funding from the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, funded approved through Rep. Carbajal’s work in Congress on the most recent federal budget.

“When it comes to helping an individual experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, every day counts. That’s why this federal grant program exists: to help people quickly regain stability in a crisis that might put their shelter at risk,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Through my work in Congress, I’ve supported this critical program – and I’m proud to see it be the latest federal funding coming to the Central Coast to be part of the solution to our region’s housing crisis.”

“These programs are essential to ending homelessness in Ventura County,” said Michele Guzman, Legislative Analyst with the County of Ventura. “This program has helped 516 households during the prior year to secure housing in our community. Rapid Rehousing funds provide rental assistance and security deposits to help move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. The street outreach funds provide case management and housing navigation to those who are unsheltered.”

“The County of San Luis Obispo recognizes the issue of homelessness as a paramount concern, and the continued federal investment is poised to make a difference in our community. In collaboration with the SLO County Continuum of Care and its dedicated community partners, the County of San Luis Obispo will strategically use these awarded funds by the California Department of Housing and Community Development to provide critical crisis aid to individuals grappling with homelessness,” said Suzie Freeman, Communications Program Manager with the County of San Luis Obispo.

The Emergency Solutions Grant program, administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funding to:

• Engage homeless individuals and families living on the street;
• Improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families;
• Help operate these shelters;
• Provide essential services to shelter residents;
• Rapidly re-house homeless individuals and families; and
• Prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.

Rep. Carbajal has made lowering housing costs for Central Coast residents and finding solutions to California’s housing crisis a key priority of his time in Congress.

Last month, he announced $550,000 in grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to help first-time home buyers on the Central Coast.

He also in November introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at improving housing access and affordability for Central Coast veterans, the Home for the Brave Act.

Earlier this year, construction on a new affordable housing community in Guadalupe began thanks in part to funding he directly secured in the 2022 federal budget.

Rep. Carbajal’s work in Congress has also delivered $4 million to support the operation of the Anderson Hotel in San Luis Obispo, which provides housing options to low income individuals in the region.

Rep. Carbajal is one of the co-authors of the Housing for All Act, a landmark bill that would provide ten years of new and increased funding for construction of new housing units, rental assistance, hotel and motel conversions, and more.

Rep. Carbajal originally introduced the Housing for All Act in 2022 alongside California Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Ted Lieu.