The federal government slashed its funding to a county agency
running 16 mobile shelters for the homeless, leaving a 10-month
window to find money elsewhere but no immediate threat to the
program.
Hollister – The federal government slashed its funding to a county agency running 16 mobile shelters for the homeless, leaving a 10-month window to find money elsewhere but no immediate threat to the program.
San Benito County will get $108,000 over two years in Federal Emergency Shelter Grant funding. That’s down from $340,000 previously allocated and it’s 42 percent less than the highest amount the county could have received for the next two years – $256,000.
The reduction in funding means San Benito will not only cut its operations on Southside Road to 12 shelters, but it also leaves the county scrambling for other funding sources. The $108,000 would last for just 10 months at the homes maintained for homeless families.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a new agreement with the county agency running the homes that waives a $500 per month lease payment. Plus, the county applied last week for a separate $17,000 grant, some of which could be allocated toward the mobile home program.
The county hopes the extra money can help fund the mobile homes’ operations for an extra two or three months.
“That would also help us conserve the limited funds that are available,” Kathy Flores, head of the Community Services and Workforce Development (CSWD) department, told the board Tuesday.
Flores runs the department that also operates a seasonal farm worker labor camp and additional homeless shelter units that operate only during the winter. Those programs also are fully funded through grants.
The federal government reduced the FESG funding levels this year, Flores said, because of decreased revenues and stiffer competition – or more applicants – for the grants. More than half of all counties applying for the grants were rejected altogether, she said. The state, which allocates the FESG grants, has indicated funding levels will dip again in two years, Flores said.
Flores is confident, however, that the CSWD can find the money to keep the mobile home program funded beyond the next 10 months.
If the CSWD receives another $500,000 grant as expected – which usually goes toward various departmental operations, including the winter shelter – Flores may pull money from that funding source for the mobile homes, she said.
“We have a pretty good track record with one of the funding sources we’re applying for,” said Flores, who knows, however, that no level of funding is certain.
“In the world of grants, nothing is a done deal until your receive the funding letter.”
Supervisors also showed concern about the program at Tuesday’s meeting.
“It’s too bad that when things get tough, it’s the first thing we cut,” said board Chairman Bob Cruz.
Supervisor Reb Monaco agreed with that sentiment, saying there’s a “desperate need” for homeless housing in the county.
There’s already long waiting lists for the current number of homeless shelter units. Another organization, Marley Holte’s Community Assistance Program, has been trying for more than a year to find a building in Hollister to open a new homeless shelter.
Monaco said it’s too early and speculative to discuss the possibility of not obtaining grant funding to keep the program running.
“I think there’s always concern, but she (Flores) is very capable,” Monaco said.
Kollin Kosmicki covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach him at 637-5566, ext. 331 or kk*******@fr***********.com.
