The City of South Bend received another round of emergency funding from HUD Cares Act money in the form of ESG and CDBG grants. This is the 3rd round in 2020.
ESG Grant = Emergency Solutions Grants Program
ESG provides grants to states and localities to provide for street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing assistance, and HMIS (Homeless Management Information Systems).
CDBG Grant = Community Development Block Grant Program. CDBG provides grants to states and localities to provide decent housing and a suitable living environment, and to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
2020 Totals of ESG and CDBG
SB’s ESG grants 2020 thus far = $1,767,705.00
SB’s CDBG grants 2020 thus far = $4,025,971.00
Total = $5,793,676.00
Yet, our street homeless live in tents with no sanitation provided by the city during a global pandemic. Our street homeless residents are about to be evicted from their third location since the Winter Amnesty closed April 30 as the Doulos Chapel program is ending July 31st. There is nowhere for them to go.
Of all the suggestions the Neighborhood Association, Advocates, and Service Providers have provide the Mayor, he's enacted none of them.
(Sources: HUD: https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/south-bend-in/)
COVID Risks Continue
Last weekend, one of the occupants of tent city learned she had been in contact with a COVID-positive person. As you may know, the city closed the COVID quarantine motel and at this time, there is no contingency plan. We were unable to locate rapid COVID testing during the weekend nor was there anywhere designated to quarantine her. Thankfully, we took her for testing on Monday morning with other advocates who had been in close contact with her and they all test negative. The question becomes, why did the City of South Bend apply for these grants if they had no plan for spending the money for the homeless? If they didn't intend to develop a system of COVID detection, quarentining, testing, contact-tracing, sanitation, and emergency shelter?
Our Community Ask
1) CALL OR EMAIL: The Common Council will be taking a vote early next week to override the Mayor's veto of the Homeless Resolution 20-22. If you are disappointed in your representative's vote against Homeless Resolution 20-22, please contact them and let them know! These 4 Common Council members voted NO:
Troy Warner, 574.235.5567, twarner@southbendin.gov
Rachel Morgan, 574.235.5567, rtomasmo@southbendin.gov
Jake Teshka, 574.292.2381 Cell, jteshka@southbendin.gov
Shiela Niezgodski, 574.235.5567, sniezgod@southbendin.gov
2) SIGN AND SHARE: Please continue to share our petition demanding immediate action here: https://www.change.org/Mueller-TakeActionNow
3) PREVENT HOMELESSNESS: As the State of Indiana's moratorium of evection is set to expire on July 31st, we ask you to share these resources with your friends and family who might be struggling to catch up on back rent.
CORONAVIRUS EVICTION & FORECLOSURE PREVENTION GUIDE
INDIANA'S STATE OF INDIANA RENTAL ASSISTANCE PORTAL
RENT AND UTILITIES ASSISTANCE SOUTH BEND
Please continue to be engaged during this time - today, Indiana reported a record number of new cases for a single day. In these uncertain times, we must demand the City represents the needs of the people over developers: open an emergency shelter now! Why do we have nearly $6 million dollars to address these needs, but yet are unsheltered residents are living in unsanitary conditions in tents while being evicted from place to place? UNACCEPTABLE
Thank you, friends.