Homeless Families Receive Gift of Shelter
Seven families with children at the Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter have been provided motel housing but the need remains for permanent housing.
Seven families with children who were living at MOES (the Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter) have been provided motel housing thanks to an Emergency Solutions grant from Planning and Community Development which funded the move through a nonprofit housing organization, Community Housing and Shelter Services. Permanent shelter is still being sought..
County staff worked through the week of July 21 to move all of the families as quickly as possible once they learned of available grant funding that could support the effort including sheltering six families for four weeks. The families' new home is conveniently located and close to schools where buses will pick up the children at the start of a new schoolyear. While the County works to identify and match individuals to housing, this motel provides a welcome shelter from heat and ability to live more comfortably while working toward long-term sustainability, which is important to those experiencing homelessness.
Alignment of department objectives and resources is critical in these efforts. Collaboration between the Community Services Agency, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Community Housing and Shelter Services and others made it possible to place all 24 individuals into housing. This transition signifies a new beginning for many of these families and a fresh start to a new school year for a handful of students.
Transitional housing and low income housing is in short supply. Anyone with available rental housing is encouraged to notify Community Housing and Shelter Services and speak to Romelia Wiley at 209-527-0444.