With little debate and much appreciation, the city council
approved $161,600 in grants to area charities and organizations
that serve homeless and disabled persons, low-income residents,
seniors, children and other special needs groups.
With little debate and much appreciation, the city council approved $161,600 in grants to area charities and organizations that serve homeless and disabled persons, low-income residents, seniors, children and other special needs groups.
Fifteen entities received anywhere from $2,500 to $40,000 for the 20008-2009 program year that begins July 1. Housing and Community Development Coordinator Marilyn Roaf helps oversee the allocation of the federal money, which totals more than $570,000 this year. The rest of the money pays for relevant staff at the city, as well as the Gilroy Youth Center, street lighting improvements in residential areas, advertising and other housing-related grants.
Due to tight funding and high demand, nearly every applicant got less than they requested. Two of this year’s seventeen applicants did not receive any funding: One was Outreach & Escort, which requested $5,000 to provide transportation for disabled residents, and the other was an employment service for minors through the Mexican American Community Services Agency, which requested $12,850.
The Citizens Advisory Committee reviewed all the applications based on the council’s criteria: services that provide shelter, food, employment, family services and transportation. The CAC also heard presentations from each applicant before making its final recommendations, which the council approved entirely. Certain portions of the overall funding are restricted to particular areas of the community and particular functions, such as housing and public services.
CAC Members and representation
Denise Apuzzo
Sally Armendariz
Irma Batrez
Yani Bundros
Elizabeth Lai
Bonnie Reed-Zander
Mary Yates
Source: Gilroy HCD
