When Prescott residents find themselves in desperate need, Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) has been there for them to help rebuild their lives. The non-profit group recently renovated a building to provide temporary housing for up to six homeless families, funded in part by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money allocated through the City of Prescott.
“Prescott Area Shelter Services is a model organization that supports the most vulnerable in our community, and helps families transition to permanent housing,” said Mayor Marlin Kuykendall. “We are proud to support their efforts by helping to create a safer and more comfortable environment for their guests. We laid the groundwork that led to Prescott receiving CDBG funds, enabling us to make this significant contribution to the PASS for this facility. I thank the City Council for supporting this worthy initiative.”
The CDBG program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), helps communities provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. HUD allocated $235,000 to the City of Prescott in 2015 for the grant program. Funds are distributed to community service providers for their facilities.
The CDBG Citizens Advisory Committee reviews all applications and makes recommendations on funding allocations to the Prescott City Council. This year, the Council approved grants to eight local groups, including PASS, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Arizona, Prescott Meals on Wheels, the Alzheimer’s Association, West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Coalition for Compassion and Justice, and Agape House.
“Meeting the needs of homeless families in Prescott is a top priority of the City’s CDBG program,” said Jerry Jones, chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee. “Prescott Area Shelter Services supplies quality transitional housing to help those in need become independent and reenter society with purpose and dignity.”
PASS has received more than $100,000 from CDBG funds in recent years, allowing them to renovate their new facility, a three-story house located at 337 N. Rush Street in Prescott, leased for a nominal amount from their partner, Disabled American Veterans Prescott Chapter 16.
“The facility needed significant upgrades to be code compliant, including the installation of fire alarms and sprinklers,” said Tom Guice, director of community development for the City of Prescott. “It was also necessary for them to rebuild some of the window frames to meet life-safety requirements, and upgrade a restroom to make it handicap-accessible.”
Other renovations included resurfacing floors and creating a partition on the main floor to create an extra room to allow one additional family to be sheltered. Prescott Area Shelter Services also received donations from the community, including from architect Robert Buford, who donated his services to draw plans and coordinate construction work.
The drug-free, alcohol-free facility will shelter homeless families with children, and empowers women and families to move from crisis to stability by providing temporary housing, resources, individualized case management and a pathway to permanent housing.
“We are truly thankful for this important grant from the City of Prescott,” said Jacqui Schlosser, Executive Director of PASS.
“We want our clients to be working and independent, but it’s very difficult to do that if you don’t have housing,” said Schlosser. The organization has to worry about its own income, too, Schlosser added, describing the grant money as “absolutely critical.”
“Once the final inspection has been done by the City, PASS can occupy the building and move in families now on the waiting list for shelter,” Guice added. “This is going to be a safe structure for six families.”
Non-profit organizations interested in applying for CDBG funding are invited to attend a grant workshop on Dec. 10. The deadline for grant applications to the City is Feb. 25, 2016. For more information on the application process or timing, contact Isabel Rollins at Isabel.rollins@prescott-az.gov or 928-777-1143.
By Catherine Sebold
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