"If the economy continues the way it's going, there aren't enough resources to piecemeal together,"

Hell, there aren't enough resources available to many of us down here in the States already and we're continually attempting to "piecemeal" things together for our clients. The more folks who become clients of mine, the less I'll be able to provide scarce resources to them....

New Tent City

Makeover part of bigger effort

Andrea Bennett, Staff Writer

Article Created: 03/29/2008 10:04:36 PM PDT ONTARIO - City officials created Tent City - or the Homeless Services Area - as a refuge for its chronically homeless population, defined as those who have been homeless for more than one year.

After thinning out the encampment's population to only include those with ties to the city, Ontario began site improvements last week.

But officials say the city is ahead of the curve in addressing homelessness beyond its sanctioned tent encampment.

Officials have touted the resources already in place for the city's transitional homeless population through Santa Ana-based and city-funded Mercy House.

Housing Manager Brent Schultz said Ontario gives the organization about $180,000 a year in Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Shelter Grant funds.

In addition to Mercy House funding, the city splits about $55,000 in Housing and Urban Development funds between three other nonprofits - House of Ruth, Foothill Family Shelter and Inland Valley Hope Partners, Schultz said.

Mercy House runs Assisi House, Guadalupe Residence and an intake center, which is awaiting construction of its permanent home with 15 emergency beds just a stone's throw from the Homeless Services Area.

Assisi House is a transitional shelter with 34 beds for single men, single women and single moms with kids.

Its residents stay an average of nine months and must be willing to turn their lives around to be admitted.

"We have an 85 percent success rate," said Larry Haynes, executive director of Mercy House. "If you're serious about ending your homelessness, you must commit to doing the things necessary to move forward."

Haynes said a plan is created for each person, goals are set and resources - such as employment assistance and financial literacy training - are provided.

But there are policies to abide by at Assisi House.

"If you are able to work, you must be willing to work. Occasionally, there are exceptions for a person with disabilities," Haynes said. "And while you're in our program, the expectation is you are clean and sober."

Haynes said some people at Tent City have been told of opportunities through Mercy House and declined.

"They'll say, `Yeah, well, I like not working,' or `I like to get drunk,"' Haynes said. "But you can't be self-sufficient if you engage in such activities."

The Guadalupe Residence consists of 15 permanent units for low-income families of five people or more.

Schultz said Ontario has $2million to buy 40 to 50 more apartment units. The city already has 1,400 affordable housing units within its borders, he said.

In the works is a $2 million, 5,800-square-foot 24-hour intake center with 15 emergency beds, a full kitchen, counseling center, a toddler play area and multipurpose rooms.

"It will be a place with real dignity, where people can go to get help, get jobs and get out of homelessness," Schultz said.

The city bought the land and is asking for $1million from the state and $250,000 from the county for the project. Ontario has also shelled out $250,000 in federal grants toward its construction later this year.

Irvine-based architecture firm KTGY Group designed the center. John Laing Homes and the Building Industry Association's Home Aide will give materials and labor - $750,000 worth - free of charge, Schultz said.

Haynes said he's not sure how or if the housing market slowdown will affect goods and services the building industry has pledged to the center.

But Schultz said the subprime lending fiasco is not the reason for the chronic homeless at Tent City.

"I know Reuters and BBC are saying the housing crisis caused this," he said. "But we haven't seen any correlation between the credit crunch, the mortgage decline and this site."

A struggling economy, however, will result in more transitional homeless, said Haynes.

"We're already seeing it in our Orange County facilities - a real increase in folks needing rental, utility, food assistance to piece things together," he said. "I'm not buying that people end up at Tent City from foreclosures. They are ending up at our shelters."

Haynes said cities need to invest in more affordable housing, not just services.

"If the economy continues the way it's going, there aren't enough resources to piecemeal together," he said. "When a paycheck no longer covers needs, some people are going to lose everything."

Watch Video: Tent City Move Out Photo Gallery: Tent City after dark Photo Gallery: Police Officers at Tent City Photo Gallery: Tent City, 03/18 Video: Tent City Wristbands, 03/17 Photo Gallery: Tent City No Children Allowed Photo Gallery: Tent City, 03/17 View PDF Document: Tent City Guidelines Photo Gallery: Tent City Rules, 03/14 Video: Authorities remove RV from homeless tent city Photo Gallery: Tent City Volunteer, 03/11 Photo Gallery: Homeless tent city, 03/05 Photo Gallery: Tent City, 02/15 Photo Gallery: County Helps Homeless in Ontario, 10/31/2007 Photo Gallery: Homeless, 10/08/2007