5 Agencies Get Grants to Fight Homelessness
Five Ventura County agencies have been awarded $87,000 under a new state grant program aimed at encouraging local strategies to fight homelessness.
The state Department of Housing and Community Development gave Turning Point Foundation $40,000. Project Understanding and the Salvation Army received $13,580 each, while Lutheran Social Services received $10,000 and Catholic Charities/Ventura Mental Health received $9,840.
The state’s new Emergency Housing and Assistance Program is part of a state strategy to move homeless people from shelters to self-support as soon as possible. Grant money is used for shelter operation and construction, rental assistance and counseling and training.
“The state is attempting to move beyond simply providing emergency shelter and to focus on helping the homeless help themselves through counseling, substance abuse treatment where necessary and job training,” said state Housing Director Timothy L. Coyle.
State officials said they expect to award $6 million in homeless grants statewide during the current fiscal year.
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