NORTH COAST, Calif. – Homelessness – and how to best tackle the issue – has been in the headlines across the state of California this year as cities and counties have been trying to proactively address this growing challenge.
State Sen. Mike McGuire, who has been a statewide leader on the issue, is hosting an informative town hall next week on how North Coast communities can secure a portion of the $2 billion that will be available from the state starting in 2017 for permanent housing that will be connected to services.
The town hall is open to the public and will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, 200 South School St. Snacks and refreshments will be available.
McGuire's office said the event will be streamed online for those who cannot attend in person.
Federal agencies will be on hand to discuss opportunities for ongoing operational funding for the housing, and nonprofits from across the region will be presenting on successes and challenges associated with housing chronic homeless.
Anyone interested in tackling homelessness is encouraged to attend.
“Homelessness, especially the lack of resources for housing and services, is at a crisis point across California – and our North Coast communities have been struggling to meet the need with limited resources and support,” McGuire said. “While there is still an incredible amount of work to be done, we have made great strides by securing $2 billion statewide that will be invested in permanent homeless housing, tens of millions of dollars will flow into Northern California alone.”
For more than a year, Sen. McGuire has been working with state agency leaders, local nonprofits and city and county officials to ensure the North Coast began to receive funding for emergency homeless shelters and housing-first projects to address homelessness in Northern California.
California Housing and Community Development recently announced grant awards for counties across the state via the Emergency Solutions Grant program, which supports rapid rehousing, emergency shelter, and other services to address homelessness.
“Due to an amazing amount of teamwork, the North Coast will benefit from these desperately needed homeless services funds. No Emergency Solutions Grant dollars had been invested in Mendocino, Lake or Humboldt counties for a few years, and it took nonprofit leaders and local officials working together to get the job done,” McGuire said. “We are thrilled that North Coast communities who have such significant need will now see state dollars invested in homeless services and we have been grateful to partner with so many over the past several months.”
Projects throughout Northern California will receive Emergency Solutions Grant program funds including emergency shelter and street outreach through Arcata House Partnership, three projects in Mendocino County are receiving state funds and a rapid rehousing initiative managed by North Coast Opportunities will be funded in Lake County with a $201,894 grant.
This spring, Sen. McGuire held a Homeless Services Summit bringing civic and nonprofit leaders together to discuss strategies to address the lack of funding available for homeless services and programs.
From that summit, valuable feedback helped shape state policy this year and since then, a lot has been accomplished.
The governor signed the State Senate’s $2 billion Homeless Services initiative – the No Place Like Home bill – which Sen. McGuire helped lead. The initiative will build a minimum of 14,000 units across our state.
In addition, Sen. McGuire fought hard along with North Coast leaders to ensure the state Emergency Solutions Grant program would benefit rural California.
The 2016-17 budget has $35 million available to support rapid rehousing, emergency shelter, and other services to address homelessness throughout the state through the Emergency Solutions Grant program.
Between the Emergency Solutions Grant awards and the $2 billion No Place Like Home initiative funding which will begin to roll out in 2017, Sen. McGuire believes it is a top priority to get all stakeholders together in the same room – or watching online – for an informative and accessible Town Hall later this month.
The list of speakers includes:
– Sen. Mike McGuire: Tackling homelessness across the State of California and the No Place Like Home initiative.
– Lisa Bates, deputy director of Housing Policy Development: Report from Housing and Community Development, lead State Agency, on the No Place Like Home initiative.
– Danica Bogicevic, US Department of Veterans Affairs: Briefing on issues facing veterans regarding homelessness, housing & federal grant funds.
– Christina DiFrancesco, specialist, Division of Financial Assistance, California Housing & Community Development: Accessing funding through state and federal programs.
– Nikka Rapkin, HomeBase SF: Creating projects to make the greatest impact to reduce homelessness while accessing the highest levels of funding.
– Georgia Berland, Sonoma County Task Force for the Homeless: Introduction to understanding the unique needs of the chronically homeless.
– Ellen Frieboes, Housing Connections Director Hamilton Families: Rapid re-housing for homeless families in San Francisco.
– Doreen Best, Special Projects Manager, Catholic Charities: The Palms Inn: hotel to homeless housing conversion.
– Mary Kay Sweeney, Homeward Bound Marin: Supportive housing programs and community engagement.
