County supervisor Gonzales touts county effort, wants to end homelessness
Supervisor Josie Gonzales has challenged San Bernardino County cities to get involved in an effort to end homelessness.
Gonzales said it will require a team effort as there are more than 7,000 homeless people in the county.
The county's Homeless Partnership was formed more than a year ago to look at the issue.
"Together, as a partnership, we'll continue to come together to prevent homelessness, and we will eventually end homelessness together," said Gonzales, who represents the fifth district.
The partnership includes faith-based community organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits as well as state, local and federal governments.
Gonzales said it will require a team effort as there are more than 7,000 homeless people in the county.
The county's Homeless Partnership was formed more than a year ago to look at the issue.
"Together, as a partnership, we'll continue to come together to prevent homelessness, and we will eventually end homelessness together," said Gonzales, who represents the fifth district.
The partnership includes faith-based community organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits as well as state, local and federal governments.
"The goal is to eliminate the amount of individuals who spend their
lives on the street," Gonzales said. "We all play an important role in
bringing homelessness to an end."
In order to move forward, Gonzales said it will require that people and groups involved in the partnership evaluate their available resources and services.
"It is a matter of us getting ourselves organized," Gonzales said. "We are the army that fights homelessness."
Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Don Kurth earlier this week said it is essential that cities tackle the issue as a group.
The city is among a handful of cities that have lent its support to combat the issue. Ontario, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino have passed resolutions showing support.
"We have to bring it to a regional level, then we have a chance at ending this," Kurth said.
A draft of the partnership's 10-year strategy to end the issue was discussed Nov. 17 at the second annual Homeless Summit in Rialto. The event was hosted by the county's Office of Homeless Services.
Gonzales told attendees at the meeting that a lot has been accomplished since last year's inaugural summit.
This includes the further development of the plan, which would create short-term and long-term solutions and require that cities provide permanent housing for the chronically homeless.
The draft included 18 recommendations that would address causes of and solutions to homelessness.
One suggestion was to develop a strategy to help people avoid becoming homeless.
Another recommendation was to create one-stop, homeless-service centers in the county.
The county's homeless population could be worse if not for the various agencies and nonprofits that reach out to those in need and act as a preventative measure, Gonzales said.
The organizations and agencies involved in the partnership have been the key to getting people off the streets, she said.
"You make it possible for others to find their footsteps and where we want to be next year and in nine years," Gonzales said.
In order to meet the goal of curtailing homelessness, Gonzales said she would like to see elected officials from each city attend next year's Homeless Summit.
liset.marquez@inlandnewspapers.com
In order to move forward, Gonzales said it will require that people and groups involved in the partnership evaluate their available resources and services.
"It is a matter of us getting ourselves organized," Gonzales said. "We are the army that fights homelessness."
Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Don Kurth earlier this week said it is essential that cities tackle the issue as a group.
The city is among a handful of cities that have lent its support to combat the issue. Ontario, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino have passed resolutions showing support.
"We have to bring it to a regional level, then we have a chance at ending this," Kurth said.
A draft of the partnership's 10-year strategy to end the issue was discussed Nov. 17 at the second annual Homeless Summit in Rialto. The event was hosted by the county's Office of Homeless Services.
Gonzales told attendees at the meeting that a lot has been accomplished since last year's inaugural summit.
This includes the further development of the plan, which would create short-term and long-term solutions and require that cities provide permanent housing for the chronically homeless.
The draft included 18 recommendations that would address causes of and solutions to homelessness.
One suggestion was to develop a strategy to help people avoid becoming homeless.
Another recommendation was to create one-stop, homeless-service centers in the county.
The county's homeless population could be worse if not for the various agencies and nonprofits that reach out to those in need and act as a preventative measure, Gonzales said.
The organizations and agencies involved in the partnership have been the key to getting people off the streets, she said.
"You make it possible for others to find their footsteps and where we want to be next year and in nine years," Gonzales said.
In order to meet the goal of curtailing homelessness, Gonzales said she would like to see elected officials from each city attend next year's Homeless Summit.
liset.marquez@inlandnewspapers.com
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