LOS ALAMITOS : City Recommends Funding for Shelter

Casa Youth Shelter, a nonprofit organization that provides temporary shelter for runaway teen-agers, has been named one of four local nonprofit groups that the city has recommended to receive federal funding for their programs this year.

The groups are part of 11 programs and projects the City Council approved last week to be submitted to the county for possible funding by Housing and Community Development Block Grants provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Community Development Analyst Bruce Barrette said the county administers the grants for cities with less than 50,000 population, such as Los Alamitos. Bigger cities apply directly to HUD, he said.

Casa Youth Shelter has requested $18,600 to help prevent physical abuse and neglect of children and to provide teen-agers information on drug and alcohol abuse.

Precious Life, a temporary shelter for pregnant homeless women, has asked for $62,000 for operating expenses, including salaries for an administrative assistant, and to buy equipment and supplies.

Another nonprofit organization, Hot Line of Southern California, which provides counseling by phone, is seeking $5,000. Interval House, which helps abused and battered women, is asking for $15,000 for operating expenses.

Barrette said the county will review the request for funding and decide which ones eventually receive money. Last year, the city requested $286,000 for eight projects and received $117,000 for five projects.

This year, the city is asking $337,950 for 11 projects.

Barrette said a committee studies the various programs and projects and draws a list for the council to approve and submit to the county. He said the projects are usually completed in two years and benefit mostly low- to moderate-income families.

The council also recommended funding for the Los Alamitos Youth Center, improvements of two city alleys, two picnic shelters at Little Cottonwood Park and upgrades in some city structures to make them more accessible to disabled persons.

The council, which again will be headed this year by Ronald Bates, who was reelected mayor Nov. 23, has also asked for $50,000 to rehabilitate four business areas in the city and $60,000 for housing improvements.

Unlike most cities, loans for housing improvements are not directly handled by Los Alamitos employees, Barrette said.

“The county administers the funds,” Barrette said. “We have found it to be cost-effective because we don’t have to hire a full-time employee to do the job.”