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The Turlock City Council approved amending the Consolidated Plan to remove the city-owned homeless shelter from the CDBG Homeless Strategy on December 8, 2009.The Consolidated Plan is the document submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that serves as a comprehensive housing affordability strategy, community development plan, and submission for funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The City of Turlock is amending its Consolidated Plan for the period of July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2009 to comply with HUD regulations.
Basically, the City of Turlock is taking out their previous intention of providing a homeless shelter from the plan because the City no longer has one.
The Consolidated Plan amendment replaces the strategy for providing a city homeless shelter with an alternative to help fund services for homeless emergency shelter through non-profits and faith based organizations.
Efforts are currently going beyond just helping the homeless, but also helping to prevent homelessness during this tough economic times when people are on the verge of not being able to pay their utilities or losing their house.
View the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program flyer for more details.
The City of Turlock is working to provide homeless related services such as this information provided by Development Services, Real Estate and Housing Program Manager Maryn Pitt.
1. The City has collaborated with SCAP, Children’s Crisis Center, We Care and Samaritan Foundation applied for a competitive Homeless prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program and received $1.6 million to spend over the next three years. The City’s role is outreach and education and connecting with the community. The grant provides funds for utility and rent assistance as well as some other services. A brochure has been provided that more fully explains the elements of the program. The City will have a case worker in our Housing office on Tuesdays and Thursday to help process individuals and families for assistance.
2. The City has a service contract with the Community Housing and Shelter Services which provides a case worker four hours a day, five days a week and is located in the We Care offices to provide motel vouchers and connect the more chronically homeless population with support related services. This program started more than a year ago and has seen almost 700 people and provided more than 100 hotel vouchers and connected people with other kinds of support services.
3. The City funded, through the CDBG program public service grants to the Second Harvest Food Bank, Clothing Closet, We Care, Samaritan Foundation and through its food assistance program as well as Children’s Crisis Center. $45,000 in assistance has been given to those programs that serve either the homeless or those at risk for homelessness.
4. The City has also reactivated its involvement in the Stanislaus County Continuum of Care which addresses not only the homeless but also works with those that provide transitional and permanent supportive housing. The City’s involvement will not only identify future partnership efforts, but also allow Turlock to collaborate with other providers who provide assistance along that Housing Continuum.