Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez Secures $4 Million for the Pomona OATH Initiative
(Sacramento)- Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) championed efforts to secure $4 million dollars in the 2021-22 California State Budget for the Pomona Police Department to continue the Officers Assisting the Homeless (OATH) Initiative. With the help of this funding, the initiative will continue providing essential resources to the homeless population in Pomona and fund full-time sworn officer positions within the City who will work with health clinicians.
“The COVID 19 pandemic has presented new challenges, and indeed has only made the need for action more important. To improve the health and safety of all Pomona’s residents, these funds will help take another major step in reducing homelessness by providing direct support to people. I am happy that we have been able to obtain an additional $4 million to help our local law enforcement and mental health clinicians address the needs of our homeless population. I have lived in Pomona my entire life and have seen how this state funding has helped our community in the past, and I look forward to the ongoing efforts of the Pomona Police Department to continue spearheading this issue.”
In the 2018-2019 State Budget, Assemblymember Rodriguez included $4 million for the City of Pomona to bring into effect the OATH Initiative. Within the program’s two-year history, eight full time officers have responded to over 3,701 calls and have visited 3,000 homeless encampments in Pomona. Assemblymember Rodriguez hopes that with the allocation of these funds will lead to new programs developed to further support the OATH Initiative.
This recent announcement of public safety funding comes just weeks after Chaffey College’s InTech Learning Center was awarded nearly $3 million dollars for workforce development thanks to the efforts of Assemblymember Rodriguez.