Riverside County officials touted significant strides in the multiyear effort to restore the Santa Ana River bottom.
What started as a complex challenge with balancing public safety, environmental preservation and the urgent needs of people experiencing homelessness, has become a model for regional collaboration and compassionate intervention, county officials said in a statement.
District 2 Supervisor Karen Spiegel led the partnership with the cities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco and Riverside to address one of the county’s most challenging encampment issues, according to the county. The initiative has helped 188 people successfully transition into stable housing. Officials said that accomplishment shows that long-term solutions for homelessness are possible when government and nonprofit agencies work together with a shared commitment.
“The Santa Ana Riverbed initiative is about more than just addressing encampments — it’s about restoring our community spaces and providing real solutions for the unhoused, all while ensuring a sustainable future for our residents,” Spiegel said in a statement. “Rather than taking a short-term approach, we invested in real solutions, ensuring that those living there had access to housing, services and a fresh start.”
The effort involved a multidisciplinary team that included Riverside County and nonprofit partner outreach workers, behavioral health specialists, substance use counselors, medical professionals, social workers, park rangers, animal services teams and law enforcement personnel.
The initiative also provided pet-friendly housing solutions to help ensure that unhoused individuals with companion animals were not left behind, an approach that strengthened trust and engagement, officials said.
Riverside County allocated $11 million from the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund to support the river bottom efforts, “balancing immediate intervention with long-term environmental stewardship,” officials said. “The success of the Santa Ana River-bottom project has not only transformed lives but also set a precedent for future efforts across the county.”
Additional initiatives include work underway in the San Jacinto River bottom and a new project launching in the county’s southwest region.
“With a strong foundation now in place, Riverside County’s Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions, Office of Homeless Services remains committed to expanding this work and continuing to develop innovative solutions that serve both individuals in need and the broader community,” the county statement said.
More information on the county’s housing and homeless programs, including ways for the public to get involved, is online at rivcohhpws.org.
