1 Levesque, Jennifer
From: Harvest Time Merced <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2024 5:48 PM
To: Housing
Subject: 2024 AAP Comment
Attachments: Suggestion to City Council.xlsx
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
Greetings Mayor and Councilmembers,
My comments are specifically regarding the direction you provided on the CDBG funds for the Public Service Projects.
If I understand Kim Nutt's explanation correctly, she and her staff presented Option 1 & 2 as they best aligned with the results of the Community needs survey and the City's Five‐year plan. While all appear to be worthy projects & programs,
if the results of the Public Survey is not fully considered ‐ it seems to beg the question "why then spend time and money on the survey in the first place?" While I know that either of the recommended opti ons would benefit Harvest Time more than the Council's decision, it is not for that reason alone that I present my thoughts.
Since the funds come from HUD and are intended to meet their objectives, I understand that whatever the Council decides must also receive HUD's approval. Herein lies an additional obstacle for the organizations ‐ Delay of reimbursement. It is already a financial challenge as the projects are to begin on July 1, 2024 while reimbursement is usually not available until February or March 2025. There has already been a two month delay this year in the public hearing process which will no doubt furt her delay the rest of the process for the 2024/2025 funding period. Please do not make any decisions that potentially could delay it even further.
In the event that all projects meet HUD's goals & objectives, I would then ask you to consider this suggestion:
Sinc
e the amount of available funding is roughly half of the amount requested, approve each organization to receive half of what they requested (with the exception of Calvary Assembly for the reason Kim stated in the June 3rd meeting).
I've attached a spreadsheet showing my recommendation.
This action would treat each organization fairly rather than the appearance of bias towards Lifeline Com munity when the Council approved $5,000 more than they requested ‐ while cutting all of the rest of the projects.
In the event that an organization could not proceed with the reduced amount of funding and therefore reciends their request, the available funds could then be distributed among th e remaining organizations.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sheila Garcia
Chairman
Harvest Time
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Program Name Requested
Amount
Council
Approved:
Difference
from Amount
Requested
% of
Total
Request
51.19% of
Requested
Amount
1 Sierra Saving Grace $106,500.00 $40,000.00 -$66,500.00 51.19% $54,517.35 2 Harvest Time $67,720.00 $30,000.00 -$37,720.00 51.19% $34,665.87 * 3 Healthy House $37,000.00 $25,000.00 -$12,000.00 51.19% $18,940.30 4 Project Sentinel $55,000.00 $25,000.00 -$30,000.00 51.19% $28,176.50 5 LifeLine Community $25,000.00 $30,000.00 $5,000.00 51.19% $12,797.50 6 Walking by Faith $50,000.00 $24,685.00 -$25,315.00 51.19% $25,595.00 7 Calvary Assembly $27,597.00 $10,000.00 n/a flat amt $10,000.00 TOTALS $368,817.00 $184,685.00 $184,692.52
-$7.52 *
$184,685.00
deduct from
Harvest Time
1 Levesque, Jennifer
From: John
Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2024 4:12 PM
To: cityclerk
Dear Merced City Council,
I am writing on behalf of Sierra Saving Grace to endorse and encourage their effort to obtain a CDBG Loan from the City of Merced. Sierra Saving Grace uses this money to buy and renovate older unoccupied houses which are then rented at a very low rate, depending on the occupant’s income. Tenants are homeless or at risk for homelessness.
Please consider awarding Sierra Saving Grace Homeless Project so they can continue their good work in our community.
Sierra Saving Grace Homeless Project
1 OVER 42 PEOPLE HOUSED
SSG has been awarded this loan 9 different years and now manages 16 units, some being duplexes or triplexes, currently housing 42 individuals. The city has put a lot of effort into seeking to renovate or build large apartment complexes to house many people, but the loan/grant approach has been very successful, too. 2 PROVEN TRACK RECORD
SSG has a proven track record over nearly 10 years of being able to change older, dilapidated properties into up‐ graded houses enhancing neighborhoods. SSG’s portion of the work met every deadline and every requirement. 3 HOUSING THE MOST VULNERABLE
Some Merced’s most vulnerable homeless and some who have been on the street the longest have been able to be housed under this program because of the very low rent requirement and because SSG’s case workers follow up to be sure needs are met.
4 SCATTERED SITES
Under this program, people who were once living on the street are scattered throughout the city rather than being housed all together in one large building. This makes for a more peaceful transition for the newly‐housed and for the neighborhood. HUD considers it a “best practice”.
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1 Levesque, Jennifer
From: Adrienne Lopes
Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2024 3:29 PM
To: Housing
Subject: Attention: Annual Plan
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
My name is Adrienne Lopes and I am writing to you regarding Merced Community Development Block Grant. In previous years this Block Grant has been used to support the efforts of Sierra Saving Grace Homeless Project. Last year SSG did not receive the grant. I am writing to you asking for your support in considering SSG as a recipient for this year's grant.
Homelessness is a consistent topic and concern in the city of Merced. SSG has been very successful in housing and monitoring homeless individuals. This organization uses the money from the grant to renovate apartment complexes to house the homeless. What more can we ask of an organization than to be actively involved in supporting our homeless
brothers and sisters?
Please consider naming Sierra Saving Grace as a recipient of the Grant.
Thank you for your consideration. You may contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Adrienne Lopes
Merced, CA 95348
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1 Levesque, Jennifer
From: Joanne
Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2024 2:39 PM
To: Housing
Subject: Annual Plan 24/25
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
Merced City Council
Annual Plan 24/25
I have been a resident of Merced for almost 50 years. Over the years I have seen an increase of the homeless. I am very familiar with Sierra Saving Grace and all of the good work they have done in buying properties to renovate in order to house those that are homeless. They have been able to purchase these properties by receiving money in the form of a loan or loan/grant from the City of Merced. Sierra Saving Grace's ability to find properties in various neighborhoods to house the homeless has been incredible. It is also so important that these properties are scattered throughout Merced and not just lumped together in one particular area. I am so hoping the City of Merced will once again see that it is only the right thing to do in supporting Sierra Saving Grace once again by giving them Merced's Community Development Block Grant to continue all of their outstanding work and by giving hope to those that are homeless.
Sincerely,
Joanne Mills
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1 Levesque, Jennifer
From: Rachel Rodriguez
Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2024 4:00 PM
To: cityclerk
Dear Merced City Council,
I am writing on behalf of Sierra Saving Grace to endorse and encourage their effort to obtain a CDBG Loan from the City of Merced. Sierra Saving Grace uses this money to buy and renovate older unoccupied houses which are then rented at a very low rate, depending on the occupant’s income. Tenants are homeless or at risk for homelessness. Please consider awarding Sierra Saving Grace Homeless Project so they can continue their good work in our community.
Sierra Saving Grace Homeless Project
1 OVER 42 PEOPLE HOUSED
SSG has been awarded this loan 9 different years and now manages 16 uni ts, some being duplexes or triplexes,
currently housing 42 individuals. The city has put a lot of effort into seeking to renovate or build large apartment complexes to house many people, but the loan/grant approach has been very successful, too. 2 PROVEN TRACK RECORD
SSG has a proven track record over nearly 10 years of being able to change older, dilapidated properties into up‐graded houses enhancing neighborhoods. SSG’s portion of the work met every deadline and every requirement. 3 HOUSING THE MOST VULNERABLE
Some Merced’s most vulnerable homeless and some who have been on the street the longest have been able to be housed unde
r this program because of the very low rent requirement and because SSG’s case workers follow up to be sure needs are met.
4 SCATTERED SITES
Under this program, people who were once living on the street are scattered throughout the city rather than bei ng housed all together in one large building. This makes for a more peaceful transition for the newly‐housed and for the neighborhood. HUD considers it a “best practice”.
[NOTICE: This message originated outside of City of Merced ‐‐ DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.]