Congresswoman Simon Brings Over $124 Million Home to the East Bay for Affordable Housing, Scientific Research, Arts, and Public Safety

OAKLAND, CA - Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) has brought over $142 million in federal funding home to the East Bay since the start of this year. In the month of April alone, she announced over $124 million for organizations and projects across CA-12. This most recent funding the Congresswoman secured will go towards affordable housing, scientific research, public safety initiatives, and the arts.

"I am extremely focused on bringing resources back to the East Bay and into my Congressional district to improve the lives of my constituents," said Congresswoman Simon. "This $142 million in funding I've secured since the start of the year will help bolster the incredible arts and culture of CA-12, support cutting-edge scientific research, and advance disability and housing justice. When we resource and support our communities, we build on the vibrancy of the district and pave the way for future art and innovation.

"I will continue fighting to ensure that institutions and organizations in CA-12 receive the federal funds they deserve, so they can keep their doors open and serve our neighbors in their times of need."

More details on the grants Congresswoman Simon announced can be found below:

Over $110 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development will go toward programs to expand affordable housing opportunities in CA-12. This is a big step toward securing housing that is affordable and accessible to teachers, healthcare workers, and all who make the East Bay an incredible place to call home.

$30,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts will go to the Oakland-based Creative Growth Art Center to support multidisciplinary programming focused on artists with disabilities. This funding will further disability justice and equity in creative spaces, as well as elevate artists with disabilities by providing them the resources they need to thrive.

Nearly $3 million will go toward crime and forensic laboratories across Alameda County to help local police departments to process crime scene materials and bring justice to survivors of crime quickly and effectively.

Members of the national NeighborWorks network, including The Unity Council and East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, will receive over $700,000 in funding for job creation, revitalizing and sustaining safe neighborhoods, and for projects that will help lower the cost of housing in CA-12.

Over $5 million will go to the University of California, Berkeley for scientific research and innovation and will fund projects spanning from research on energy to environmental health equity in underserved communities.

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