Council supports grant application for riverbed encampment

By Camille DeVaul · Thu Jun 18 2026

Council supports grant application for riverbed encampment

City moves forward with $12 million to $14 million funding request targeting Salinas Riverbed homelessness

PASO ROBLES — During the Tuesday, June 16, Paso Robles City Council meeting, councilmembers unanimously approved a motion authorizing the Community Services Director to submit an Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Round 5 application, enabling the city to pursue state funding to address one of its highest-impact areas of unsheltered homelessness.

The ERF Round 5 program is intended to support jurisdictions in resolving large encampments and transitioning individuals into stable housing. The North Paso Robles Salinas Riverbed has been identified by the San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services Division as a regional priority due to ongoing public safety, environmental, transportation, and public health concerns.

The funding would allow advances for projects targeting a Housing First strategy aimed at moving individuals from unsheltered homelessness into permanent housing through coordinated outreach and supportive services. Services would include case management, housing navigation, and behavioral health support. Participants would be connected to the regional Continuum of Care and prioritized for shelter resources, including 15 beds within ECHO’s 90-day shelter program.

Ongoing coordination after housing placement would focus on preventing encampment re-establishment while protecting public and environmental resources.

A key component of the proposal includes the creation of a Navigation Services Center on the shared ECHO Homeless Shelter and HASLO permanent supportive housing campus at 1134 Black Oak Drive. The center would provide centralized access to housing navigation, case management, behavioral health coordination, benefits assistance, employment services, and shelter support.

City staff said the facility would improve service access and streamline transitions from unsheltered homelessness into permanent housing.

The project also includes acquisition and completion of the Moose Apartments development at 2548 Spring St. The project would create at least eight three-bedroom permanent supportive housing units for families experiencing homelessness.

An adjacent entitled property with approval for 18 additional one-bedroom units is also included. While these units are not yet constructed, they would be preserved for future development. Together, the completed and planned components represent up to 26 permanent supportive housing units.

The proposal is intended to expand the city’s inventory of deeply affordable housing and support Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) goals, while improving access to nearby schools, jobs, transportation, and essential services.

The application is supported by a collaborative effort involving the County of San Luis Obispo Homeless Services Division, HASLO, ECHO, Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the city’s Community Action Team (CAT Team). HASLO and ECHO would lead housing and service delivery, while Caltrans, CHP, and the CAT Team would coordinate outreach within state right-of-way and surrounding areas.

Officials said the coordinated approach is intended to improve public safety, protect infrastructure, and reduce encampment re-establishment.

If awarded, the project is expected to:

The city is seeking approximately $12 million to $14 million in ERF funding. No local match is required.

Councilman Steve Gregory echoed the support many community members issued during public comment for the funding and potential projects.

"I understand what ECHO does, and I understand what HASLO really does and what we've accomplished with them at the Motel 6. And they're an amazing organization because they're able to give us that opportunity for permanent housing," Gregory said. "It's the people, it's the volunteers, it's the Ashleys and Melissa, everybody. Everybody's in this for the same reason to help the people who need help, and figuring out a way to fund this and fund it in a semi-permanent way. And you always figure out Alo somehow figures it out every time. And it's wonderful because without it, we wouldn't get what we need. And this is what we need. And we have so many committed community members that are part of this process and the helpers, all the speakers that do all the meals. It's just a heartfelt giving of their lives to help somebody just get a step up."

Council then unanimously approved staff to move forward with applying for the ERF funding.

The next Paso Robles City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, in the Norris Room at Centennial Park at 6 p.m.

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