The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $1.2 million to several organizations in the city that help homeless people.
The funding, which was announced Dec. 20, ensures that housing and service programs remain in operation next year, HUD announced.
Four organizations will get money:
- The Virginia Beach Community Development Corp.'s New Haven Program, Transitional Housing Program for Families and Homeless Management Information System - $451,110.
- The Samaritan House's Aftercare and Family Empowerment programs - $146,735.
- The Judeo-Christian Outreach Center's Affordable Housing program - $56,247.
- Community Alternatives Management Group Inc.'s Transitional and Permanent Housing programs - $557,017.
Molly Brown, executive director of theJudeo-Christian Outreach Center, said the HUD funding allows her organization to house and provide case management for eight formerly homeless people who have a disability and are medically vulnerable.
"Each of them have a story and are so grateful to live in a new apartment," Brown said. "We are happy to provide this housing opportunity to them and our community."
Service providers say homelessness has been a growing issue in Virginia Beach, and the stagnant economy has made the problem worse in recent years.
In March, more than 20 homeless people who lived in a tent city on private property in Seatack were told by the city to leave.
And in August, city housing officials announced that they were considering the authorization of a "tent city." That move would've made Virginia Beach the first community in the state to sanction a homeless encampment.
That concept never materialized, but city housing officials pitched an idea to City Council members in November to consolidate services for the homeless community at a central location.
The city's Housing and Neighborhood Preservation Department is working on a formal proposal and looking for possible locations for the project, which received praise from Mayor Will Sessoms.
A city count in January put the number of homeless in Virginia Beach at 427.
Jennifer Jiggetts, (757) 222-5150, jennifer.jiggetts@pilotonline.com
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Why is the Government using our tax dollars to
provide money to non-profit organizations? The whole point of being non-profit is the ability to solicity the public for assistance, and the ability to utilize their hard earned money donations tax free.
The working class taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet yet our Government can't seem to grasp the concept of living within their means.
Here's the key: You can't save everyone, and when you take from the working poor to give to the elite and non-working poor, you are endangering our ability to provide for ourselves, and you are making our country weak.
You can't save everyone
Right. Therefor, when you see a person drowning, remember that x number of thousands drown every year, and let him go. City paid lifeguards are an unnecessary expense.
If you see someone hit by a car, just walk on by. It's an everyday occurance, and you can't save them all. Emergency vehicles just tie up traffic, so why bother.
Heart attacks happen all the time, so why bother to check that collapsed person on the street?
Until it all happens to you! (this is a generic "you") Then all the help in the world might not be enough. Or would you still think it is an unnecessary expense?
I'd like to know what
I'd like to know what percentage of that 1.2 million dollars is for salaries for "administrators." It seems like for that amount of money, they ought to be able to buy each of the homeless people a house and be done with it already.
Well Said
When Sentara (For Revenue) is listed as a Non-Profit, the system needs to change. There are two many non-profits where the Board Members, CEO, etc earn 6 figure salaries ???? Why. YMCA Hampton Roads CEO 350K - why? The Non-Profits should be limited in what they can pay their leadership. Our area where the average salary is 40-50K should have the senior non-profit salary for leadership limited to 2-3 times the local salary. If these individuals want higher salary, go to the Corporate World.
Real estate market must have
Real estate market must have really taken a hit if you can now buy a house for $2,800. Hopefully, our new homeowners will be stable enough to handle taxes, insurance, utilites, repairs, etc since many have mental illness issues.
Susan should have done the math ...
…like you and me did. But for 1.2M you could build a pretty big somewhat Spartan like dormitory complex. This is new money in addition to what is already available from other sources.
Must be some real heavy administrative fees/charges
$1.2 million funding for housing, is a sizable amount of monies to serve the 427 documented homeless individuals. Has to be other expenses involved.
I'm sure there are
Each of the groups should show a simple bottom line number of how much of this money actually survives the process and ends up at the intended final destination. Then it needs to be published. I bet is only a small fraction of what it would have been if they just given it to the Union Mission or Salvation Army.
Misinformed...
First let me say that Virginia Beach is in a serious state of denial if they truly believe that there are only 427 homeless people in the city. Secondly, these organizations do so much more behind the scenes than people realize. What you see at face value is only half of the story. As a recipient of the services through the VBCDC when my own family was displaced, I have to say that the monies that they are to recieve are a god send and well deserved by the staff so that they will be able to serve many more people in need.
I didn't say the money would be squandered
I said if they are spending public funds they should have an obligation to make all the spending transparent and the press should stay on top of that. If it ends up where it does the most good, great.