M ARCH 2 02 1
SOUTH EL MONTE B R ING ING NEW S , P EO PL E AND EVENTS TO T HE C IT Y O F SOUTH EL MONTE
NEWS
IN THIS ISSUE RENTAL/MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PG. 2 COVID VACCINE INFO PG. 4 SPRING CLEAN UP WEEK PG. 6 SPRING ACTIVITIES PG. 9
Valentine Drive-Thru
HELD FOR SOUTH EL MONTE SENIORS
The City’s Senior Services Division adores the seniors of our community and city staff showcased their love for them by hosting a Valentine Drive-Thru on February 12, 2021.The special event held at the South El Monte Senior Center parking lot greeted and served 115 seniors from the safety of their vehicles with a goodie bag, meal and dessert. The meals were sponsored by Super Bingo and Huntington Culinary providing the desserts. “We love and miss our seniors and we create safe events like this to see and check-in on them,” said one Senior Services employee. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Senior Services Division has been taking care of our seniors by providing various services including delivering of meals, grocery shopping, transportation services, check-ins, personal protection equipment (masks, face shields, and sanitizers), craft kits and vital resources. For more information on services for seniors visit the City’s website at cityofsouthelmonte.org or call the Senior Center at (626) 448-0131.
City of South El Monte Hosts
VIRTUAL TOWN-HALL MEETING TO DISCUSS HOMELESS SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY The City of South El Monte, like other communities in the region and state, has been impacted by the effects of homelessness. “Although South El Monte is smaller in size and population, our community has been affected by the close proximity to the San Gabriel Valley and Rio Hondo Rivers where hundreds of homeless individuals dwell,” said one City official.
PERMIT #87 EL MONTE EDDM ECRWSS
The City hosted a virtual homelessness town-hall community workshop on January 21, 2021 that was open to the public where participants learned about the City’s ongoing efforts and strategic initiatives to pursuing opportunities to provide resources and services to people in our City who find themselves without a home. The virtual workshop was interactive which allowed participants to ask questions, learn how they can be involved and highlighted the following topics:
Residential Customer
City of South El Monte 1415 Santa Anita Ave. South El Monte, CA 91733
PAID
PRSRT. STD U.S. POSTAGE
Although this year’s homeless count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) was not conducted, due COVID-19 safety guidelines, it appears that more individuals and families are currently experiencing homelessness. This is in part due to individuals being laid off or furloughed from their jobs as a result of the pandemic and the high-priced housing market.
• The City’s Homelessness Plan addresses the needs and concerns of our residents and those those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, business owners, service providers, and the faith-based community. The plan identifies the City’s objectives including: educating City staff and the community about homelessness and available resources; increasing outreach and engagement activities; expanding employment opportunities in the City; creating shelter options in South El Monte; developing new affordable and supportive options in the City; and, coordinating with regional partners to aid in implementing the homeless plan. • South El Monte’s partnership with nearby cities of El Monte and Baldwin Park to create a Tri-City Cohort to address homelessness sub-regionally. Consequently, the Cohort received a $1.07 million grant from LA County Sales Tax Measure H to fund affordable housing and homeless services in all three cities. The Cohort’s long-term goal is to create new systems, programs, efficiencies and policies that leverage the County’s Homelessness Initiative in order to more effectively address homelessness locally. The Cohort partners each city’s Community Development Departments, Planning Department, Community Services Department, and Housing Authority as well as the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG). • The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) instrumental role in helping cities in the San Gabriel Valley including South El Monte by helping secure and administer $5,625,000 from Senator Susan Rubio’s Office. These funds will be utilized in areas including Prevention Diversion, Emergency Rapid Rehousing, Housing Navigator/Landlord Outreach, Technical Assistance, Hygiene Program, Training, Innovative Regional Homeless Service Coordination Program and participation in the Regional Housing Trust Fund. Homelessness is a community issue, and the City of South El Monte is calling on residents, businesses, agencies and organizations to join the City to make a real impact by helping those in need. Please attend the next virtual homelessness town-hall meeting on April 21, 2021. More details will follow in the April newsletter.