Dear Madam Mayor and City Council members,
My name is Edwin Weaver, I live four blocks away in district 4. I am a resident of the city, home owner and taxpayer as well as voter. I am also the executive director of FBSMV.
I want to thank the CDBG committee for their hard work and commitment to the process. I also want to express my thanks that FBSMV was recommended for funding.
I am writing to you to express my concerns that the Good Samaritan Shelter and Warming Center work is currently not funded. We have one shelter in town that is available for all members of our city. FBSMV regularly counts on the Good Samaritan Shelter to house our families who get evicted, or squeezed out of their homes. The shelter is the absolute alst safety net to catch families with small children. Without them families would be left to live in their cars or on the streets and we can't let that happen. The shelter is underfunded and needs support from local philanthropy but also the City. CDBG funds are a perfect fit for this essential service.
This year we depended on the warming center more than ever. There is no place to go when it rains or when it is too cold to be outside. This is not only important to keep our unhoused alive but also to prevent fires in our community. With no alternatives the unhoused will start fires in an unsafe manner and we will be at risk if we don't fund this essential service.
I am asking that you as the city council work together tonight to fund both of Good Samaritan's requests for support. Partner together to fund these essential services for the least of these in our community.
Thank you
Edwin Weaver
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Edwin Weaver, MSW, MDR
Executive Director
Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley