Santa Clara Co. Collects Fed Housing Windfall

SAN JOSE, CA -- Santa Clara County is throwing $26 million in federal funding at various housing programs, the local government announced Friday.

The county Office of Supportive Housing and five other community partners are receiving funding windfall from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for its Continuum of Care Competition. The Supportive Housing division is up for getting the lion's share of the money earmarked -- $21 million. It will also receive $1 million in new federal funding for housing assistance and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence.

“We are proud to work with our partners to expand services and house the most vulnerable individuals and families in our community,” said county Supervisor Mike Wasserman, who serves as the board's Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee chairman. “The county and our partnering organizations continue to receive this federal funding because our supportive housing system is so successful. Since 2015, our collaboration has helped more than 6,000 people obtain permanent housing.”

The agencies pinpointed for funding include:

• Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing with $21.3 million
• Bill Wilson Center's focus on youth and young adults with $1.9 million
• Abode Services with $813,607
• St. Joseph’s Family Center with $807,310
• West Valley Community Services with $737,323
• YWCA of Silicon Valley's domestic violence program with $423,078

“These awards provide critical funding for our supportive housing system. Local resources leverage federal funding, enabling us to assist more homeless individuals and families each year,” said Ky Le, director of the Office of Supportive Housing. “As we continue to build affordable homes, these grants will help us provide services and rental assistance to support homeless families, youth, veterans, women and children escaping intimate partner violence and adults with disabling conditions.”

The programs deemed Continuum of Care funding are expected to assist over 1,250 households to obtain and maintain housing, including at least 75 households occupied by youth, 83 fleeing domestic violence and 1,009 of those chronically homeless.

Funding will assist the following projects:

• 19 permanent supportive housing projects to provide long-term housing assistance and supportive services to the most vulnerable, chronically homeless individuals and families in the community.

• Nine Rapid Rehousing and transitional housing projects to provide long-term housing assistance and supportive services for up to 24 months to 200 households annually.

• Three projects to support infrastructure of the homeless housing system.

More than $1 million in new federal funds has been allocated this year to provide nine to 24 months of housing assistance and supportive services to individuals and families who are fleeing domestic violence and lack the resources and support to find adequate housing.

“Lack of safe and affordable housing should not be a barrier to escaping violence in the home for families and individuals who live in our county,” said Protima Pandey, director of the Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Policy. “We are committed to working alongside our supportive housing colleagues to expand resources for survivors, children and families.”