Scwarzenegger Approves Housing Help for Workers Hit by Freeze

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has authorized $2 million to help farm workers who were left jobless after a January cold snap make rent and mortgage payments.

The funding will come through a first-come, first-served program open to eight counties and 79 cities hit hardest by the freeze that destroyed more than $1 billion in crops, according to the governor’s office.

The state also has provided more than $2 million to food banks since the cold snap, authorized local governments to use $85 million in federal housing funds to help freeze victims and petitioned the federal government to provide additional disaster relief.

“As we keep the pressure on the federal government to approve a comprehensive relief package to help freeze victims, my administration will continue working with local officials and communities to assess the need and provide additional assistance,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.