$520,000 in Federal Funds Comes Through
The city received $520,000 in federal funding for a variety of uses after several weeks of uncertainty.
The Community Development Block Grant money will be used toward improving public facilities, social services and administrative costs.
Four area social services that provide help for the homeless--FISH-Harbor Area Inc., Serving People In Need, Orange County Interfaith Shelter and the YWCA Hotel--will share about $42,000.
Another $36,000 will go to help low-income elderly in mobile meal programs offered by South County Seniors and FISH.
Shelters for abused or neglected children--Interval House, Olive Crest and Mercy House--will each receive $10,000 for property improvement or development.
“The amount of assistance each agency gets is determined by the amount of assistance they provide Newport Beach residents,” said Craig Bluell, the city’s principal planner and block grant manager.
The largest chunk of money will be used by the Public Works Department to remove architectural barriers to disabled people. About $308,000 has been set aside to cut city curbs, widen doorways, install ramps and make public restrooms wheelchair accessible.
The remainder has been allocated to fair housing, administration and planning. The city contracts with the Orange County Fair Housing Council to handle landlord-tenant disputes.
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