PUBLIC COMMENTS
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High Desert
Homeless Services,
Inc
From: Cassandra Searcy
To: Cassandra Searcy
Subject: FW: Support for the Wellness Center HDHS
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 2:50:36 PM
City of Victorville Council Members,
This is Jimmy Waldron, Executive Director for High Desert Homeless Services, Inc and we have been the only homeless shelter providing services for the High Desert for 30 years and a partner agency providing the emergency warming shelter during extreme cold weather and we are in full support of the City of Victorville building the Wellness Center and Recuperative Care by Eva Del Park. This is a much needed service that is vital in helping our local residents get back on their feet. There are so many people in our community that have been neglected access to services and this new center will give them the opportunity needed to become independent members in the community.
We fully
support all the City's efforts.
Respectfully,
Jimmy Waldron, Executive Director
High Desert Homeless Services, Inc
On Wed, Mar 16, 2022 at 12:24 PM, Cassandra Searcy
<[email protected]> wrote:
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Women of Noble
Character
From: Cassandra Searcy
To: Cassandra Searcy
Subject: Support from Wellness Center Women of Nobile Character Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 2:49:48 PM
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Attention Honorable City Council Members,
Women of Noble Character has been actively supporting the homeless community here in Victorville since 2010. We have partnered with many local non-profits such as the Rescue Mission, the Victor Valley Homeless Shelter, The Salvation Army as well as the city of Victorville to assist this population.
We see daily the struggles that our clients face, especially the women. We have witnessed 1st hand the crimes and offenses that are committed against them daily because of their defenseless circumstances. Also, the inability to maintain proper hygiene aids in the spread of diseases and, in this crucial time with facing Covid-19, we know what that tragically can bring.
These are just a couple of the host of issues that accompany a growing homeless population.
And, as our economy continues to face instability, as prices continue to rise with housing and food costs, we are going to see an increase in our homeless population. The Wellness and Recuperative Care Center not only helps us to address the present issues that we face but will also allow for that future that we are looking at.
I believe that the necessity of the Wellness and Recuperative Care Center is obvious and to ignore the facts, that our homeless community has increased and will continue to increase, would be negligent on our part.
I pray that you carefully consider the situation and make the right decision for the future of our community.
Sincerely,
Pastor Rasiene Reece
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Victor Valley Rescue
Mission
15572 7th St. ♦ Victorville, CA 92395 ♦ (760) 955-5958
C
hanging Lives for Good
March 16, 2022
City council of Victorville:
Dear council,
T
hank you for the opportunity to write a letter on behalf of those neighbors in need of shelter here in the City of Victorville. The daily struggle for many homeless is temporary shelter & lack of housing. In my 44 years of living here in the Victor Valley, and 13 years working with those experiencing homelessness at the Victor Valley Rescue Mission, the wellness center is the first real big project aimed at meeting this need. I understand that there is some opposition to approving the contracts, I would implore the council members who have concerns to think about the amazing things that will be accomplished in their city because of this center. VVRM oversaw the Emergency Warming Shelter for 6 years and we have so many stories of success just from that very temporary time of shelter.
T
hank you for investing your time, talent, and treasure in this work. I am believing God for continued growth in our collaborative resources to the homeless and hurting as they rebuild their lives and get back on the road to independence.
Very Sincerely,
B
ill Edwards
Director
To Victorville City Staff/City Council, March 16, 2022
Our unsheltered neighbors and friends are not a “Commodity” and are not tied to “Campaign contributions”. Years ago Blanca came to the Mission with Randy, a local person who, at that time, was experiencing homelessness. I served Blanca and him when they came to the front door of the Mission for services. That night Blanca took him to the Warming Shelter and the first incident of conduct unbecoming to a City Council member began. Sadly, after all of the useless calamity subsided, Randy was abandoned by Blanca but not by The Mission. Now he is in housing and has obtained employment, and after a long journey of learning to trust, has given his trust and friendship to us. We, who in the Community work hard to provide services to lift up our homeless neighbors and friends and have not and do not see Sheri, Mary, Queen, John, Randy, Tom, Josh and so many more as a “Commodity” but as our neighbors and friends that we serve and want to see connected with services and housing.
This Wellness and Recuperative Care Center shows a markedly advanced viewpoint of City Staff and Elected Officials to address a major issue in our Community. My full-time work sees this. There is a holistic viewpoint established here that benefits us all who reside/work/shop in this progressive city.
There is no underhanded funding source going on here. It is the way, already established in the City’s Municipal Code, to fund this in a timely manner to allow this shelter to be built in the parameters provided by the State of California’s grant process.
I, wholeheartedly, support the completion of the Wellness and Recuperative Care Center in the manner proscribed by City Staff. First-hand, the members of the Homeless Solutions Task Force has seen their knowledgeable, farsighted and balanced approach that benefits our Community in providing solutions to our area’s unsheltered individuals.
Warm regards,
D
awn Quigg
Community Relations, Victor Valley Rescue Mission
Member, Homeless Solutions Task Force
Member, High Desert Interagency Council on Homeless
Member, High Desert Food Collaborative Council
Member, San Bernardino County Superintendents Regional Advisory - Desert Mountain
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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A Better Way / Victor
Valley Domestic
Violence, Inc
A BETTER WAY
VICTOR VALLEY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
[!)'' :,'1',1]
March 16, 2022
Dear Mayor Jones and City Council Members,
On behalf of A Better WayNictor Valley Domestic Violence, Inc, please accept this letter of support to develop, establish and operate The Wellness Center as it has been presented to our community.
As a 30-year plus agency provider to those in need of emergency shelter and housing we are very well aware of the increasing need to comprehensively address homelessness in our community. I don't have to tell you the homeless statistics and data because that's what drove you to the reality that a solution is necessary. The City's plan is strategic and intentional in providing a realistic resolve and is also complete with funding for the project. The next step is to move forward in consideration of time. The Wellness Center is not only addressing the issue of homelessness but will also serve as a model of partnerships leading individuals effectively from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
As part of our non-profit community that continues to be confronted with the challenges of serving and housing the homeless, whether they are victims of domestic violence, mental health challenges, substance abuse, transitional age youth, unemployment/working poor, or lack of access to services and resources, the Wellness Center is a much needed and valued addition to helping to address these needs in our High Desert community.
We greatly appreciate the partnership with the City of Victorville and the opportunity to serve on the Homeless Task Force where we have pledged our support for the Wellness Center. We would find it a great disappointment and error for the City to not move forward with this much needed entity.
Respectfully,
✓ : .. .J,_J.(_� -/4LL-
i�erspoon-Bell
Executive Director
P.O. Box 2825 Victorville, CA 92393
T: 760-995-8010 www.abetterwaydomesticviolence.org
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Symba Center
March 16th, 2022
City of Victorville
14343 Civic Drive
Victorville, CA 92392
RE: City of Victorville Wellness & Recuperative Care Center To whom it may concern,
Having partnered with the City of Victorville and homeless service agencies to provide medical
services to individuals who are homeless, Symba Center is writing to fully support construction of the Wellness & Recuperative Care Center. This construction represents the future of sustainable collaboration for non-profit agencies serving the homeless population. Critical services will be provided onsite including but not limited to, medical care, mental health care, recuperative care, social services, and housing navigation. These services are vital for homeless persons to access on their path towards healing and reintegrating into society.
The Wellness
Center would be the first of its kind in San Bernardino County and would allow the City of Victorville to be a beacon and light and a leader in homeless solutions.
Should you have any questions, you can contact me directly by phone at 760-515-2464 or by email at [email protected]
Sincerely,
Shawn R. Smith, PharmD
Executive Director and Co-F ounder
Symba Center
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Inland Empire Health
Plan (IEHP)
From: Cassandra Searcy
To: Cassandra Searcy
Subject: FW: Support for the Wellness Center IEHP
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 3:12:36 PM
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Dear Cassandra,
I’m urging the City of Victorville to move forward building its homeless Wellness Center…… as soon as it can.
The population of homeless is increasing and this includes the High Desert.
As you know, our City already has the distinction of having the 2nd largest population of chronic homeless in San Bernardino County. Not a distinction we like to celebrate.
However, we can celebrate our city developing a Wellness Center to meet head on this local problem in a comprehensive way – perhaps addressing it the best in the county.
We both know that the City’s Center will act as a magnet drawing in other health and social services so comprehensive services are provided at a single location rather than continuing the fallacy that we can transport these people around the High Desert and up and down the hill to receive “homeless services.
Its time the services are brought to the population and the Wellness Center accomplishes this.
I applaud the City, its leadership and its creative and dogged effort to build this community resource for a problem that is getting worse.
Let’s get these people off the streets and lets develop our city for the future it deserves and can create.
Please let me know if I can provide additional information. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Kevin Mahany
Former member of Victorville’s Homeless Task Force and Community Benefit Leader at St. Mary Medical Center
Current Director of Government Products and Enrollment
Inland Empire Health Plan
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Searchlight Society
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Housing Authority of
the County of San
Bernardino
From:
To: Keith Metzler
Cc: Cassandra Searcy;
Subject: Wellness Center Project
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 3:45:38 PM
Attachments: image001.png
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Keith,
Good afternoon. On behalf of the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB), I am writing to express continued support for the Victorville Wellness Center Campus, which was selected in 2021 to receive an impressive amount of funding in the amount of $28 million under the California Homekey Program.
When completed, the Wellness Center Campus will serve homeless individuals and families through 170 beds of low-barrier interim housing, coupled with critical services including a medical clinic, mental health services, substance abuse counseling, and much more.
The Wellness Center Campus will help to fill the gap between homelessness and other long- term housing support programs by providing a greatly needed transitional step on the path to wellness and stability.
This project will help address the high priority local need to serve homeless individuals and families in the City of Victorville.
451 persons were identified as homeless in the City of Victorville during the 2020 Point In Time Count. In recognition of the urgent need for the services the Wellness Center Campus will provide, we fully support and encourage the development of this project.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
All the best,
Maria Razo
Executive Director
Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino
715 E. Brier Drive | San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone/Fax: (909) 332-6305
[email protected]
|www.hacsb.com
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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Hilltop Geotechnical
and Koury
Engineering
From:
To: City Clerk
Subject: Wellness Center
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 11:16:52 PM
Attachments: image001.png
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[EXTERNAL EMAIL]: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Victorville City Council,
I am writing to you regarding the Wellness Center project. I am a long-time resident of the High Desert and a graduate of Victorville High School I wanted to take the time to share my comments in regards to yesterday’s comment made by Council member Blanca Gomez, “where were we when the City didn’t have the funding for this project for the homeless community?” I am a proud resident of our community and my daughters, and I see every day how many of our own are struggling and living in their cars, and tents- on the street corners and down by the Victor Valley USD bus yard.
This project brings more than a homeless shelter -let me share some insight on this project that was not discussed in last night’s meeting- The innovative design of the campus will allow the Wellness Center to serve several functions by providing the following:
A low-barrier, emergency shelter
Recuperative care facility
Medical Clinic
Interim housing, and
Wrap around supportive services
Some of the supportive services will include case management, care coordination (medical, mental health and dental) job training/placement and housing navigation. The Wellness Center will also provide a recuperative care facility and an onsite medical clinic that will be available to members of the community who are Medi-Cal or Medicare eligible.
I attended a conference a few weeks ago, and they main topic was making Wellness Centers that provide more than just shelter, but a place that change lives.
The prisons and hospitals are
overwhelmed with the homeless who have mental issues, who need real help and not to be institutionalized-this is what the Wellness Center can bring to our community.
This project has a PLA agreement on it, which means that local hire is required which will bring jobs to our own.
I know for us working on this project I will be closer to my home and children and honored to be working on such a trail blazing project, other cities and counties will be watching us, to see how they can bring this to their community.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Andrea Knight
Client Manager
786 S. Gifford Avenue
San Bernardino, California, 92408
Mobil:
Office: (909) 890-9079
* Fax (909) 890-9055
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.hgeotech.com
*CONSTRU
CTION INSPECTION * MATERIALS TESTING * LABORATORY TESTING * GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING * GEOLOGY
If you have any changes or additions to your contact information, please let us know by replying to this e-mail or contact (909) 890-9079.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
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General Public
03/16/2022
To the Honorable Mayor and Victorville City Council,
It's time to put politics and personal feelings aside, and do what's right for all the people in the city of Victorville which includes our homeless population. The creation of the Wellness Center is a great humanitarian effort by our city to not only relieve our homeless the burdens of being on the street, but it will also provide a pathway for our residents to mainstream back into society. The Wellness Center is a needed tool that will help people recapture their dignity and self worth. In addition to this, it's also the answer to some of the problems that your constituents have been asking help in for so long. It is unfair to our homeless, and to our constituents to drag this noble project into a fight over personal feelings.
Just because something doesn't happen exactly how one person wants shouldn't be the catalyst for that person to reject the entire thing. Honest and concrete reasons for why the process went as it did was explained by our city staff. Those reasons given were acceptable and understandable to the public.
What's even more disappointing and rather disgraceful is that the person opposing this is the same person who publicly boasts about being a champion of the homeless. I would urge this person to honor her words and do what is right for the people she claims to care so much about.
Not often does a city shine for the good it enacts into the community with everybody in mind. The Wellness Center is one of theses times. Please don't erase or hinder the forward movement of this project. History will judge each of us for the actions we take here and now. Do the right thing and come together as one body keeping in mind the people you serve.
Best regards,
��vtll� Paul Andre' Marsh
Victorville, CA92392
From:
To: City Clerk
Subject: Wellness Center
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 10:46:48 PM
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Victorville City Council,
I am writing to you regarding the Wellness Center project. I am a long time resident of the High Desert and a graduate of Victorville High School I wanted to take the time to share my comments in regards to yesterday’s comment made by Council member Blanca Gomez, that where were we when the City didn’t have the funding for this project for the homeless community? I am a proud resident of our community and my daughters and I see everyday how many of our own are struggling and living in their cars, and tents- I am not a politician so I don’t need to get recognition of what my daughters and I do for the homeless.
We don’t have much, but we have more, so every month my daughters give up a percentage of their allowance and we share what we have with those less fortunate than us- on the street corners and down by the school bus yard.
This project is bring more
than a shelter but it’s the first wrap around shelter which is what those who need to transition need, this is the first of its kind here in our City of Victorville. It wasn’t discussed at the l