Cindy Parr named first executive director of organization
Despite the rough economy and lacking funds to support
expansion, the homeless coalition is continuing its push to get a
permanent shelter opened in San Benito County, while the
organization recently announced the promotion of Cindy Parr as its
first full-time executive director.
Since a lack of funding is the main roadblock, Homeless
Coalition of San Benito County volunteers got some good news from
last weekend’s Jazz Under the Stars event. It is the primary
fundraiser for the organization, and it netted more than $13,000 in
ticket sales this year, Parr noted.
Cindy Parr named first executive director of organization
Despite the rough economy and lacking funds to support expansion, the homeless coalition is continuing its push to get a permanent shelter opened in San Benito County, while the organization recently announced the promotion of Cindy Parr as its first full-time executive director.
Since a lack of funding is the main roadblock, Homeless Coalition of San Benito County volunteers got some good news from last weekend’s Jazz Under the Stars event. It is the primary fundraiser for the organization, and it netted more than $13,000 in ticket sales this year, Parr noted.
The announcement of Parr’s promotion – she has been a part-time homeless shelter manager – also incidentally came at the Jazz Under the Stars event, held at St. Benedict’s Hall on July 17.
While supporters came out in strong numbers to support the efforts, homeless coalition leaders will have to continue their push for increased fundraising in order to make a permanent shelter a reality. They are eagerly awaiting word, though, on a $600,000 “bricks and mortar” grant that would go a long way toward making it happen, noted David Huboi, an active volunteer with the organization.
Huboi noted how such an injection would allow the organization to turn a building into a shelter and start paying a lease to a property owner. He pointed out how advocates had examined the old convalescent hospital on Southside Road, but that it has issues with asbestos and hazardous materials.
Since homeless shelters are acceptable for zoning purposes in the north gateway of Hollister, Huboi said he has been looking at the “inventory” in that area for potential prospects.
Another option that has come up is the idea of using current county offices on Southside Road – near the migrant farmer housing used as a temporary shelter in the winter. But that depends whether those county departments end up moving to offices near the airport, which is a possibility at this point, Huboi said. That situation should become more clear in the next month or two, he said.
