Councilmember Raman Announces Congressional Funding For LA River Encampment Resolution Grant

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2023

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COUNCILMEMBER RAMAN ANNOUNCES CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING FOR LA RIVER ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION GRANT

LOS ANGELES — Today, Councilmember Nithya Raman joined Congressman Adam Schiff to announce nearly $1 million in additional funding for Council District 4’s LA River Encampment Resolution Grant. The new funds were included in the fiscal year 2023 federal budget, which President Biden signed into law on December 29, 2022. These Congressional appropriations dollars are an additional infusion of resources to house people experiencing homelessness along the LA River, following a $1.7 million grant awarded to Council District 4 by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022. 

Councilmember Raman and Congressman Schiff met in their shared Los Feliz district Monday morning, along with Jennifer Hark-Dietz, CEO of PATH to conduct outreach along the LA River. The elected officials spoke with caseworkers at PATH about their work in the area and spoke with residents living along the river about what resources they need. 

“We came out here today to highlight the unique challenges posed by homelessness along the LA River and why this infusion of funds is so essential to make change. I used to walk this same route years ago, getting to know unhoused residents along the river with the volunteer organization I co-founded. I saw firsthand how difficult it can be for caseworkers just to access the area, let alone come on a regular basis,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman. “With the infusion of these additional funds from Congressman Schiff on top of our grant from the governor, we are able to hire enough staff to do outreach here every day and assist these residents into housing.”

“Tens of thousands of Angelenos are experiencing homelessness – living without the stability and security of permanent housing. Earlier this year, I secured $982,045 for the LA River Encampment Resolution Grant, which will fund efforts to connect unhoused Angelenos living around the LA River Basin with housing and critical resources,” said Congressman Schiff. “Today, Councilmember Raman and I met with some of the people living along the river basin and discussed how this funding will help get them on the path to housing security. I look forward to continuing to partner with Councilmember Raman and other local elected officials to address the homelessness crisis in our city.”

“The coordination between Councilmember Raman and Congressmember Schiff has brought vital resources to the LA River for person-centered, trauma-informed outreach services,” said Jennifer Hark-Dietz, PATH CEO. “Each day, PATH team members are building trust with unhoused neighbors and finding the right approach to services to bring them indoors and ultimately, connect them to housing. All levels of government have to be part of the solution to this crisis, and we are grateful for this partnership.” 

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