San Jose, CA: Santa Clara County is among several Bay Area communities that have recently won federal funding in an attempt to combat homelessness.
Tent dwellers are something I hear about daily and experience firsthand. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) expressed her strong disapproval.
Local governments and nonprofits in Santa Clara County will receive $39,486,518 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to end homelessness. This announcement was made Friday by Reps. Lofgren, Anna Eshoo, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta, represent districts 16 and 17, respectively, in California.
In this regard, the municipal governments serve as the spearhead. As far as zoning and construction plans are concerned, they have last say, according to Lofgren. “The major role that the federal government can play is to provide funding for those efforts.”
The distribution of the awards is as follows:
- $29,314,619 for the County of Santa Clara’s Office of Supportive Housing
- $2,416,260 for the Bill Wilson Center
- $2,074,713 for Community Solutions for Children, Families and Individuals
- $1,555,534 for the Covenant House California
- $1,103,485 for St. Andrew’s Residential Programs for Youth
- $1,032,385 for the St. Joseph’s Family Center
- $960,894 for Abode Services
- $547,016 for West Valley Community Services
- $278,003 for Razing the Bar
- $203,609 for YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley
According to Lofgren, the problem of homelessness has intensified during the past few years.
“We’ve got to dig our way out of this,” she informed us.
The situation is not due to a single cause. Lofgren countered that the current state of homelessness is due in part to the 2008 housing market meltdown and that the epidemic has only added to the problems that already existed.
Not having enough money for rent has forced some people to live in their automobiles. Traveling families. Some of the students here are without a permanent home. She firmly stated that it was very inappropriate. People with additional issues are also among us. Individuals struggling with illnesses of the mind or substance misuse. All of those issues, not simply housing, are a concern for them.
So far as she was concerned, there isn’t a single solution.
“Well, a lot of stuff. Regular families should be able to afford additional houses. She referred to it as a problem with building and construction.
Lofgren has shown her support for programs that help with down payments, for organizations who are building affordable homes (particularly NGOs), and for persons battling substance addiction and mental health issues.
The issue is significant inside our community, according to Lofgren. Getting ahead of it will require everyone’s cooperation. We are making an effort to contribute.