The city of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger donated a combined $4 million toward Bridge to Home’s permanent shelter. The announcement was made during a press conference on Friday.

“This joint announcement demonstrates the value of collaboration and unwavering partnership that we share with the Supervisor, even when facing the most difficult of challenges – in this case – the growing homelessness crisis,” said Mayor Weste. “We have taken this challenge head-on and have come up with an innovative and collaborative strategy to help our most vulnerable neighbors. While many communities are just beginning to formulate a homelessness strategy, we have been addressing this issue for years.”

The City has been a long-time supporter of Bridge to Home and additionally formed the Community Task Force on Homelessness back in 2018. This group, comprised of 30 stakeholders from local organizations, works to complete the action items within the Community Plan to Address Homelessness. In addition, the City donated the land upon which the permanent shelter will be built.

“I am proud of my close collaboration with the City of Santa Clarita and our mutual commitment to help people experiencing homelessness,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said. “This permanent shelter will also provide career training and wrap-around services to so that residents can stay successfully housed. It will be an essential community asset for some of Santa Clarita Valley’s most vulnerable residents, a tangible symbol of hope and care.”

The $2 million from Supervisor Barger brings Los Angeles Country’s total contribution to Bridge to Home to $5.18 million. Barger continues to drive efforts that reinvest Measure H money in the Santa Clarita Valley. In this community, residents have paid $26.5 million and only $674,986 has made it back to fund homeless services, excluding funding from County Department services, Councils of Government and service provider contracts.

“We are so thankful for the support of the City of Santa Clarita and Supervisor Kathryn Barger,” said Bridge to Home Board President Tracey Carpentier. “This new shelter project is vital to addressing homelessness in our community. I cannot even describe the incredible difference this new facility will provide for our neighbors experiencing homelessness. From having a warm, safe place to sleep, nutritious meals and the resources and support they need to go from homelessness to housing – the Bridge to Home shelter will truly be a place to find hope, get help and make a change.”

For more information about Bridge to Home, visit their website here. For more information on what the City of Santa Clarita is doing to address homelessness, please visit SantaClaritaHomelessAction.org.