Minutes - 20030121 - Laserfiche WebLink

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a. Resolution Supporting Restoration of Funding to Proiect HomeStart The Board considered adapting a resolution in support of efforts to restore renewal funding for Project Homestart, a transitional housing program operated by the Inter-Faith Council. Chair Brawn said that this was to be funded by HUD and it got cut from the grant list. Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes spoke about the request to adopt a resolution to restore renewal funding for Project Hamestart. This project is operated by the Interfaith Council. Last summer, the County applied for just over $1 million from HUD, and only received $731,296 in homeless assistance. This amount did not include funding far the renewal of Project Homestart. The IFC has encouraged the community to assist them in encouraging federal officials to reconsider funding for Project Homestart. The staff has also drafted a letter to go to both Senators and to Congressman David Price. Chris Moran, Executive Director of the Interfaith Council, said that he remembers in 1996 that Commissioner Halkiotis made a motion that their infrastructure should be an Orange County land. He said that there has been a wonderful partnership between the Interfaith Council and Orange County. He said that they pledge to continue services far homeless families at this facility. He clarified some things that have been in the newspapers. He said that not all that has been in the newspapers is necessarily true. He said that they could not understand why the decision was made the way it was far the funding. He said that they scored higher than the average shelters in the State. He said that there are many contradictory stories and they cannot get straight answers. He said that the IFC Board of Directors last week voted unanimously to keep Project Homestart open beyond March 31 st through June 30th. This is the end of their fiscal year and they owe it to the staff and the recipients to keep it open through the end of the fiscal year regardless of the funding decision. They are going to appeal to the community to raise more money locally and find more volunteers to meet the needs. They are also putting together an ad hoc committee to look at their entire agency structure and fundraising mechanism. A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution as stated below: Resolution Supporting Restoration Of Funding To Project Homestart And Pledging To Petition Federal Elected Officials To Assist The Inter-Faith Council In Their Restoration Efforts WHEREAS, the Orange County Continuum of Care submitted an application for Homeless Assistance funding to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in May 2002 far $1,097,452 including $366,156 in renewal funding far Project Homestart; and WHEREAS, Orange County was awarded approximately $731,296 in Homeless Assistance funding in December 2002; and WHEREAS, the funding received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development application does not include funding far the renewal of the Project Homestart Transitional Housing Program sponsored by the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service; and WHEREAS, Project Homestart is a transitional housing program designed to assist up to 15 homeless families move toward independent, permanent housing; and WHEREAS, Project Homestart is a unique program in Orange County and a vital component of the Homeless Program Continuum of Care;