Involvement of elected officials necessary to curtail homelessness in San Bernardino County
The key to curtailing homelessness in San Bernardino County is the involvement of elected officials.
How well community leaders perform in receiving government funding will depend on how well represented they are by those people they elect.
That is the recommendation of Mark Johnston, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
How well community leaders perform in receiving government funding will depend on how well represented they are by those people they elect.
That is the recommendation of Mark Johnston, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
"Homelessness has to be thought about as a regional issue, because the
homeless don't think when they are leaving one city for another,"
Johnston said.
There are more than 7,000 people in the county who are considered homeless.
Lawmakers can secure local government resources to help the homeless, which is a huge contribution, Johnston said. "What sometimes lacks is executive government leadership."
One factor that HUD officials examine when providing funds, is if a plan is in place by the city making the request, he said.
Johnston commended county officials and its Homeless Partnership for creating a 10-year strategy to end homelessness.
The partnership -- a collaboration of faith-based community organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, state, local and federal governments -- formed more than a year ago to thoroughly look at the issue.
The plan was discussed Nov. 17 in Rialto at the Homeless Summit hosted by the county's Office of Homeless Services.
As they fine-tune the document, Johnston said people involved need to make sure it is clear "what you are trying to measure."
Lynn Jacobs, director for the state's department of Housing and Community Development, said the state is looking at ways to create a permanent source of funding for projects such as affordable, transitional and low-income housing.
"Having safe and adequate housing is something everyone wants for residents of California," Jacobs said.
She told summit attendees that her office is about to making recommendations to the Governor's Office about where funding could come from.
Without explaining the recommendations in-depth, Jacobs said the county's 10-year plan and collaborations have them "poised to receive a lot of money from the permanent source."
liset.marquez@inlandnewspapers.com
There are more than 7,000 people in the county who are considered homeless.
Lawmakers can secure local government resources to help the homeless, which is a huge contribution, Johnston said. "What sometimes lacks is executive government leadership."
One factor that HUD officials examine when providing funds, is if a plan is in place by the city making the request, he said.
Johnston commended county officials and its Homeless Partnership for creating a 10-year strategy to end homelessness.
The partnership -- a collaboration of faith-based community organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, state, local and federal governments -- formed more than a year ago to thoroughly look at the issue.
The plan was discussed Nov. 17 in Rialto at the Homeless Summit hosted by the county's Office of Homeless Services.
As they fine-tune the document, Johnston said people involved need to make sure it is clear "what you are trying to measure."
Lynn Jacobs, director for the state's department of Housing and Community Development, said the state is looking at ways to create a permanent source of funding for projects such as affordable, transitional and low-income housing.
"Having safe and adequate housing is something everyone wants for residents of California," Jacobs said.
She told summit attendees that her office is about to making recommendations to the Governor's Office about where funding could come from.
Without explaining the recommendations in-depth, Jacobs said the county's 10-year plan and collaborations have them "poised to receive a lot of money from the permanent source."
liset.marquez@inlandnewspapers.com
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