BSCC Approves COVID Funds to Help House up to 8,000 Leaving CDCR

 

SACRAMENTO (July 16, 2020) – To help expedite the emergency housing needs of up to 8,000 people being released from state prisons the Board of State and Community Corrections today allocated $15 million of its $58.5 million in federal emergency COVID-19 funds to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The funds will be used to provide temporary, emergency housing for those without other options. All expedited releases are eligible.

The Administration is reducing populations in state prisons to help create the physical distance needed to stem the COVID-19 virus spread. At the request of the Administration, the Board called an emergency meeting on July 14 and met today to address the issue.

The funds will be transferred to the CDCR to quickly leverage existing contracts that can provide emergency housing. Specialized Treatment for Optimized Programming (STOP) sites provide housing and comprehensive services through an expansive network of subcontracted non-profit service providers. This network immediately can expand capacity to broker housing across the state.

CDCR is working to release throughout August nonviolent offenders with less than a year left on their sentences.

The Board will consider public comment and determine priorities for the remaining portion of the grant at its September meeting.

The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance and is designed to help mitigate state and local spending on the Coronavirus pandemic.

The BSCC provides leadership and technical assistance to local corrections agencies, and administers grants designed to reduce recidivism.

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For more information about the CESF grant specifically please contact Ricardo Goodridge at Ricardo.goodridge@bscc.ca.gov

Members of the media who want more information about the CDCR housing effort should contact Dana Simas at Dana.Simas@cdcr.ca.gov

Organizations interested in providing housing services can contact Jessica Fernandez at Jessica.Fernandez@cdcr.ca.gov