The City of Hollister recently considered applying for a federal
grant for homeless shelter assistance, but officials on Wednesday
said the city declined because it doesn’t directly manage social
services.
Community Development Director Bill Card said at least one local
nonprofit organization will likely apply for the one-year grant of
up to $180,000 from the Federal Emergency Shelter Grant program,
which will disperse $5.5 million nationally in 2003 to local
government agencies and nonprofit organizations in small
communities.
The City of Hollister recently considered applying for a federal grant for homeless shelter assistance, but officials on Wednesday said the city declined because it doesn’t directly manage social services.
Community Development Director Bill Card said at least one local nonprofit organization will likely apply for the one-year grant of up to $180,000 from the Federal Emergency Shelter Grant program, which will disperse $5.5 million nationally in 2003 to local government agencies and nonprofit organizations in small communities.
Hollister building officials became aware of the funding opportunity when they were notified by the city-contracted grant-writing firm Randall Funding and Development. However, Card said, “The city really doesn’t have social services. We really don’t have the setup for it.”
The grant program is directed at homeless shelter programs that are already established, according to Hollister Associate Planner Maria De Leon.
The funding can go only toward specific services, including rehabilitation of an existing building to accommodate a homeless shelter. Other eligible funding categories include “essential services” for the homeless, operational costs of a shelter, income for shelter administration or homeless prevention.
There is no match requirement from local agencies for the FESG program because the State of California has offered to meet the requested match for statewide jurisdictions.
Since local nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply, De Leon and Card said Community Services and Workforce Development would likely apply. CSWD operates the Southside Migrant Labor Camp, which primarily serves seasonal farm workers and is made up of 16 mobile-home units.
CSWD Executive Director Kathy Flores, who was at a workshop Wednesday on this very grant in Sacramento, said the CSWD received a $300,000 grant last year. And according to federal regulations, a jurisdiction can receive only $340,000 over a two-year period. Therefore, CSWD “most definitely” will apply for the remaining $40,000 for which the organization is eligible, Flores said.
Since CSWD is considered a county organization and the city is a separate jurisdiction, she said Hollister could have applied for a separate $340,000 if it had a plan in place.
“Perhaps, maybe next year they will be in that position,” she said.
If the CSWD receives the grant, Flores said it will use the money for rent assistance to “help people stay in housing who are served with eviction.”
Additionally, a recently formed homeless consortium made up of local social services advocates has recently shown interest in applying for grant funding to support planned efforts to open a permanent homeless shelter in Hollister. San Juan Bautista resident Marley Holte co-founded the group, which has set a goal of opening a shelter in Hollister by November. Assemblyman Simon Salinas, D-Salinas, has supported the group’s efforts.
The consortium has explored the possibility of using the National Guard Armory at the Hollister Airport, and Holte said he is looking into use of a local church as a temporary shelter. Holte is currently examining whether the consortium is eligible for the federal program.
In recent months, officials from both the city and local nonprofit agencies have voiced concern over homelessness in the county, along with a serious problem with substandard housing.
They say not only does CSWD need more support – as it usually maintains a long waiting list of families – but also that a permanent homeless shelter would help remedy the housing problems.
