Merced County’s Effort to End Homelessness

Recommendations 2

• R1

  Page 36
  The MCCGJ recommends that the various organizations that are involved in dealing with homelessness in Merced County continue their outstanding work and that local governments continue to increase their support to address this issue and provide support to the CoC.
• R2

  Page 36
  The MCCGJ recommends that the City of Merced and Merced County continue to seek funds from federal and state government agencies that can be used to provide aid in combating homelessness in our area. REQUESTED RESPONSE(S) Merced County Board of Supervisors: “The Board appreciates the Civil Grand Jury’s recognition of this issue and the work that has gone into addressing it. The County will continue to work with its local partners to seek federal and state funding that can be used to further address homelessness in our area.” Merced City Council: “On July 21, 2016, the Merced County Civil Grand Jury (“MCCGJ”) issued its report entitled Merced County’s Efforts to End Homelessness. This report focused on the MCCGJ’s investigation of the contract with Urban Initiatives (“UI”) and the efforts that have been made concerning homelessness. As requested by the 2015-2016 MCCGJ, I am writing you on behalf of the Merced City Council to formally respond to the 37 Recommendations contained in the report. The City Council has reviewed this response and authorized that it be sent at their October 17, 2016, meeting. As set forth in the MCCGJ’s report, in 2011, the Merced County Board of Supervisors adopted a ten-year plan to fight homelessness in the County. The implementation of this plan was assigned to the Merced County Association of Governments, who along with the County and the City of Merced (“City”), contracted with Urban Initiatives (“UI”) for the purpose of obtaining state and federal funding and support to combat homelessness within the County. As noted in the Report, Merced County and the City funded the UI contract. UI assisted with the formation of the Continuum of Care (“CofC”), which is a countywide committee comprised of volunteers from various non-profit agencies whose purpose is to engage all agencies in our community that have services to offer to the homeless. The MCCGJ found that UI’s involvement greatly increased the participation in the CoC by government agencies, non-profits and other organizations. The MCCGJ commended UI, CoC, the United Way of Merced County and the Merced Rescue Mission for their efforts. In addition, the City and County were also commended for their efforts in initiating a constructive program for dealing with the homelessness issue. The Report contains two recommendations for which the MCCGJ seeks a response from the Merced City Council. The City appreciates the Commendation by the MCCGJ for our efforts to combat homelessness and provides the following information in response to the Recommendations in the Report. In 2016, the City, through a Community Development Block Gant (CDBG), provided funding to the United Way of Merced County in the amount of $38,000 to assist with the operation of the CoC. The City also continues to provide assistance to the homeless population and actively seeks funding from state and federal sources to combat homelessness in our City. Accordingly, the Recommendations contained in the Report have already been implemented by the City. A summary of the City’s contemporary efforts in this regard are described below. The Mayor’s Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness In January 28, 2015, the annual Merced County homeless count revealed that there were 88 homeless veterans in our community. That number reduced 71.5% in 2016 when the annual count indicated that there were 25 homeless veterans in our community. With the goal of honoring the service of veterans by ensuring that all unsheltered veterans in the City are provided with stable housing, in June 2016, the City joined a nationwide federal program called the Mayor’s Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. To meet this challenge, the City is working on the federal level with the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. On the local level, the City is working with the CoC and local veteran service providers to end homelessness among local veterans. A 38 copy of the City’s letter committing to this program and materials detailing the City’s plan to accomplish its goal of ending homelessness among veterans is attached to this Response. Community Development Block Grant Awards As set forth in further detail in the City’s 2016 HUD Annual Action Plan, the City has committed the following CDBG funds to assist with the needs of homeless families and individuals: Recipient Program Amount Purpose Merced County Rescue Mission Room at the Inn $200,000 Purchase of a property to provide housing to homeless families Merced County Rescue Mission SOAR Case Management Program $8,000 Establish a SOAR case management program for the CoC to assist with community mental health services. Merced County Rescue Mission Rental Deposit Assistance $20,000 Assist with rental deposits for homeless individuals Merced County Rescue Mission Warming Center $15,000 Continuation and expansion of warming center services to homeless Sierra Saving Grace Housing Acquisition $167,000 Acquisition of a duplex or a single family dwelling for use by homeless Sierra Saving Grace Supportive Housing $7,500 Operation of a support housing project Alliance for Community Transformations Homeless prevention program $10,000 Development of a homeless prevention program for victims of domestic violence and their family members Housing Authority for Merced County Rental Deposit Assistance $30,000 Rental deposit program for homeless and those at risk of homelessness United Way of Merced County Funding for CoC $38,000 Funding for CoC The City, its partner agencies and community organizations are committed to providing assistance to the homeless population living in our community. The City will continue to seek other funding opportunities from federal and state government agencies that can be used to provide aid in combating homelessness in our area.” Merced County Association of Governments: None