Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

Antioch council rejects $35 million grant for homeless housing

nbcbayarea.com · 13dShare

The Antioch City Council has rejected a proposal to convert a motel into housing for people experiencing homelessness, turning down $35 million in state funding. The proposal would have converted a former Comfort Inn into housing for up to 85 people, with priority given to veterans and unhoused youth. To receive the state funding, the city would have been required to contribute about $1.2 million annually for 15 years. The debate stretched late into the night, with advocates urging the council to move forward and use the state funding to help get people off the streets. But with the city’s budget already in the red, council members said they could not commit to the long-term costs. “Like it or not, responsibilities we have to address and it’s not simple to just say, ‘Take the money,'” Mayor Pro Tem Donald Freitas said. “It’s not a simple answer because we know there are consequences.” Several council members also said the project would only provide housing for about one-third of the pe

First report: Antioch considers rejecting $35 million grant for homeless housing — nbcbayarea.com, 15d