JPAC Budget Items 2022
The 2022-23 State Budget includes $141.2 million in JPAC priorities, a record amount of funding for Jewish community initiatives. These budget items meaningfully address the Jewish community’s core safety concerns and provide critical social services for those in need.
Combating Antisemitism and Hate
California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) – $50 million: The NSGP provides assistance to nonprofit organizations at risk of hate-motivated violence to enhance their physical security infrastructure. The federal government allocates money for security grants, but California nonprofits continue to have unmet need. Last year’s state budget included a record $50 million to supplement the NSGP, but it was still insufficient to meet the demand as over 350 organizations applied for funding. This is an annual initiative led by JPAC and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, and the $50 million allocation was added to the state budget by Governor Newsom in his May budget proposal (the “May Revise”).
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Renovate and Expand the JFCS Holocaust Center – $3 million: The Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) Holocaust Center in San Francisco is the preeminent organization in Northern California for Holocaust and genocide education, serving over 28,000 students, teachers, and community members each year. The building renovation project will preserve priceless archival items that are essential for teaching about the Holocaust and critical for scholarly research. It will also enhance a wide range of critical programs and activities to better serve current and future educators, students, scholars, Holocaust survivors and their descendants. The Jewish Caucus championed this request, in coordination with JPAC and JFCS, and the allocation was added to the state budget in the Legislature’s budget proposal in June.
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Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education – $1.4 million: The Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education was established by executive action from Governor Newsom in 2021. Inspired by Senator Henry Stern’s JPAC-sponsored bill, the Council’s creation was a major victory for JPAC. This funding will be used to staff the Council and ensure the proper educational goals are being achieved. Championed by JPAC, this funding was added to the state budget in the Governor’s May Revise.
→ Read More About This At Governor Newsom’s Newsroom
Commission on the State of Hate – $1.8 million: AB 1126 (Bloom) was a JPAC-sponsored bill signed into law in 2021, establishing the Commission on the State of hate. Similar to the Governor’s Council, the Commission will use this funding to hire staff and further its mission of analyzing and proposing policy solutions to root out hate. Advocacy efforts championed by JPAC also led to its inclusion in the Governor’s May Revise.
→ Read More About This At Governor Newsom’s Newsroom
Expanding Services for Our Communities
Rebuilding Camps & Community Centers Destroyed in the Wildfires – $40 million: This funding supports the rebuilding efforts of six Jewish and non-Jewish overnight camps, retreat facilities, and community centers that were destroyed in wildfires since 2017. These facilities serve diverse economic populations, including disadvantaged and disabled Californians. URJ Camp Newman and Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps are each set to receive $11.83 million, and the Shalom Institute would receive $9.47 million. Other summer camps included in the funding proposal are Camp Krem, Camp Skylark, and Camp Jack Hazard. JPAC worked with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Jewish Caucus on this request, which was included in the Governor’s May Revise.
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California Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (CHSAP) – $36 million: CHSAP provides resources for five Jewish Family Service agencies – in San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and East Bay – to offer trauma-informed services, including home care, culturally appropriate case management, home-delivered meals and groceries, transportation, and more to our aging Holocaust Survivor population. Around 50% of Survivors living in San Diego, Los Angeles, or the Bay Area live at or below the poverty line. While the Claims Conference typically fills gaps in state funding for in-home and skilled nursing care, its recent allocation did not nearly meet the needs of a Survivor population that requires increasing support as they age and that suffers from isolation and subsequent trauma due to the Covid-19 pandemic. CHSAP funding will provide vital resources to allow our Survivor population to age with dignity. In 2018, the State granted $3.6 million for the CHSAP; this allocation represents a 10-fold increase in the state’s investment. Senator Henry Stern and the Jewish Caucus championed the CHSAP funding request, in coordination with JPAC and Jewish Family Service agencies. The funding was included in the Legislature’s June budget proposal.
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“The Village” – Housing for Adults with Disabilities – $9 million: Supports a project led by Cornerstone Housing for Adults with Disabilities (an offshoot of ETTA) to develop and operate housing for people in the Greater Los Angeles community who have developmental differences. This flagship community will be open to residents of all backgrounds and (dis)abilities who can live independently with a portion of units allocated for low-income individuals. JPAC and ETTA worked closely together to lead this advocacy effort, and it was added to the final budget agreement between the Legislature and the Governor.