Let’s make everyone count!

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) needs volunteers to conduct the 2023 Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.

The PIT Count is an unduplicated count of all people in Stanislaus County experiencing homelessness. It provides a "snapshot" of what homelessness looks like on a single day of the year.

The Count is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2023. The deadline to register is January 6, 2023.

The Count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to estimate the number of Americans without safe and stable housing. It’s a requirement to receive federal funds to reduce homelessness.

Volunteers will work alongside the County’s Homeless Outreach and Engagement Team as they fan out across the Stanislaus County. They’ll engage with local homeless individuals and their families to complete surveys and help distribute care packages.

The registration process is easy. You can register online at https://stanislaus.pointintime.info/. You'll be required to choose a training session and select the city where you’d like to work.

Other options to register: By phone (209) 558-2961 or e-mail CSOC at csoc@stancounty.com. You can also scan this QR code from the camera app in your smart phone.

The 2023 Homeless PIT Count is organized by the Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) which includes local governments, non-profits, and homeless providers.

In partnership with the cities of Ceres, Modesto, Oakdale, Riverbank, Turlock, and Waterford, Stanislaus County has contracted with TPH Architects to develop complete, pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) building plans that are going to be available, free of charge, for property owners living in any of the partner jurisdictions; this is to help streamline the permitting process and reduce the costs for property owners to add ADUs to their properties.

Senate Bill (SB) 2, signed by Governor Brown in 2017 was aimed at addressing the state’s housing shortage and high housing costs. The legislation directed that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), use 50 percent of the revenue in the first year to establish the Planning Grants Program (PGP). The PGP program was not competitive and all localities that met the eligibility requirements were funded.

All the cities decided to utilize a portion of their PGP grant funding to partner with Stanislaus County to go out for a request for proposal to contract with an architect to develop the ADU plans that are now being made available free of charge to residents.

ADUs are an accessory beyond traditional construction in California homes providing a solution for additional housing needs for families. ADUs, also referred to as in-law units, are being built to address the lack of housing that meets people’s needs for affordability and proximity to job rich environments.

ADUs tend to be significantly less expensive to build than new detached single-family homes because they are not being built on new land and can provide as much living space as apartments and/or condominiums. These free plans have been designed to provide adaptability in meeting typical lot sizes and configurations found throughout Stanislaus County. There are seven different options in a variety of sizes and exterior finishes creating a desirable living space for those who would seek to occupy an ADU.

To take advantage of this opportunity, we encourage property owners should contact a representative in their jurisdiction of residency to obtain the pre-checked building plans, free of charge, and to get more information about the process of constructing an ADU on their property.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUS) - Planning & Community Development - Stanislaus County (stancounty.com)

The California Mortgage Relief Program is expanding to provide tax payment assistance to help you get caught up. The program uses federal Homeowner Assistance Funds to help homeowners with past-due property tax payments.

The program is free. The funds do not need to be repaid and there is no cost to apply.

"This will be a big help to homeowners who are delinquent on property taxes due to COVID-19," stated Donna Riley, Stanislaus County Treasurer-Tax Collector. "Eligible homeowners could receive up to $20,000 to cover past due property tax payments."

Riley added that there are more than 2,800 homeowners currently behind in their property taxes in Stanislaus County. To receive funding, applicants must meet specific criteria related to financial hardship caused by the pandemic.

To find out if you qualify for the program, please go to CaMortgageRelief.org. You can also call 1-888-840-2594.

The California Mortgage Relief Program is part of the state's Housing is Key initiative.

Stanislaus County is partnering with the Stanislaus Community Foundation to support local nonprofit organizations. Stanislaus County developed the Community Benefit Contribution Program to provide a mechanism for the Cannabis Businesses in Stanislaus County to give back to the community. In 2018, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors designated a portion of funds raised through the Community Benefit Contribution Program to support youth-serving organizations in Stanislaus County. In 2022, the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office contracted with Stanislaus Community Foundation to manage the Community Benefit grant administration process. Organizations can apply for funding online starting October 4, 2022.

"We’re pleased to extend the original intent of these community benefit dollars on behalf of the local cannabis industry, to area nonprofits,” said Jody Hayes, Chief Executive Officer for Stanislaus County. “We are excited to support youth programs and youth-serving nonprofits.”

501c3 nonprofits serving youth in Stanislaus County in good standing with the IRS are encouraged to apply as well as schools located in Stanislaus County. Grant requests may not exceed $50,000. Applying for a grant does not guarantee a funding award.

“Youth leadership and youth activities are incredibly important to all of us,” said Marian Kaanon, President and CEO of Stanislaus Community Foundation. “Our hope is that this flexible funding will extend the capacity of local youth-serving nonprofits to build on existing programs.”

Stanislaus Community Foundation is managing the application process on behalf of Stanislaus County. Foundation staff will screen and score applications based on a grant program rubric and present its recommendations to Stanislaus Community Foundation’s Grants and Programs Committee, which must agree, by majority vote, on the final grant approvals. Stanislaus Community Foundation will present recommended grant approvals to the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office for ratification by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors in December 2022.

Grant applications will be accepted between Tuesday, October 4, 2022, and Monday, October 31st, 2022, at 5:00 PM PST. Award notifications will occur in November, and award disbursements will occur in December 2022. For more information, visit: StanislausCF.org

About Stanislaus Community Foundation Stanislaus Community Foundation (SCF) is a place-based funder serving the residents of Stanislaus County. Since 2002, SCF has been a catalyst to transform local resources into common good through strategic philanthropy and bold leadership. The vision of Stanislaus Community Foundation is to create a community of choice where people can live, work, and thrive. To support this vision, SCF nurtures partnerships and grows charitable resources to advance the common good in Stanislaus County. For more information, please visit https://www.stanislauscf.org/