Palm Springs awarded $5M to address homelessness and encampment issues

California is giving 18 local communities nearly $131 million in total, to help people experiencing homelessness in "dangerous encampments"  — and Palm Springs is one of the communities receiving this money.

The City of Palm Springs announced Governor Newsom's office awarded it Encampment Resolution funding and that the money is part of the state’s effort to address homelessness and encampment issues across California.

The city is receiving $5,106,731.

Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein said the funding will help the city with its ongoing efforts to support unhoused people.

"We recently opened the second phase of our Navigation center," Bernstein said. "The idea is that we now have a daily drop in center. We have overnight beds and we now have these 80 units for temporary housing to get them into permanent supportive housing. These funds will really help in that whole process."

He said with Palm Springs Homeless Navigation Center Phase 2 complete, the encampment ordinance takes effect.

"It is illegal now to camp in Palm Springs and to sleep on public property, provided we have a bed," Bernstein said. "What this funding will help do is make sure that we have the facilities to be able to house people in the encampments who need a home and shelter."

For more information on how the city plans to use the award, stay with News Channel 3.