Imperial Valley organizations prepare for homeless funding

Three out of the seven cities in the Imperial Valley have declared a homeless crisis in their community. Organizations from across the county gathered today to discuss state funding to address these issues.

The California homeless emergency aid program (HEAP), is allocating over four million dollars to the Imperial Valley in effortS to reduce homelessness.

The Imperial County Department of Social Services and the Continuum of Care Council board are working together to distribute the funds.

“In this round of funding it’s 4.6 million dollars and that’s up substantially, compared to years past.” “We have a real shortage of shelters.” We need to provide basic services to the homeless.” “Feeding them, showers, personal hygiene, to permanent housing,” said Les Smith, chair of the Continuum of Care Council.

Funding will be given to organizations in the valley that have a plan and proposal set in place to help the homeless community.

“We would like to end homelessness.” “But if we can implement some of these programs to help with some of that prevention, that will save a lot of taxpayer dollarsm,” said Smith.

Programs like ivrop are hoping to receive funds to help homeless and at risk youth, a population that Luis Torres says, gets forgotten.

“We’ve been addressing this issue for years, there are no shelters for homeless individuals who are just single ages 18-24.” “Unfortunately, we have to turn them away, there’s not much we can do, there’s a mens shelter in Calexico, and that’s pretty much it,” said IVROP program manager, Luis Torres.

Each organization who receives approval for funding will have sixty days to implement their program.

The Imperial Valley Continuum of Care Council will be approving homeless proposal projects by the end of next month.

A second workshop will be held Friday, April 12, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.