$500,000 in Homeless Housing Funds Presented to Tulare County by Senator Hurtado

Media Contact:
Jennifer Fawkes, Tulare County
O: 559.636.5010 | M: 559.749.4148 | jfawkes@tularecounty.ca.gov

 

Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) presented a ceremonial check to Tulare County leaders celebrating the $500,000 the Senator secured in the state budget in support of homeless housing in Tulare County.

“No child or family in Tulare County should have to worry about where they will sleep at night, or whether they will have a roof over their heads” said Senator Hurtado. “Every child or family across Tulare County deserves the right to access emergency shelter or housing as part of their pathway out of homelessness. This investment will ensure just that.”

The presentation was held at Community Services Employment Training (CSET) in Visalia. CSET works with Tulare County departments to combat poverty and inspires youth, families, and communities to achieve self-reliance through innovative pathways and collaboration.

“Tulare County has made great strides over the last few years in addressing homelessness,” said Supervisor Amy Shuklian. “This funding will provide the opportunity to continue those efforts for support services and initiatives that address this crisis.”

One of the projects addressing the homeless crisis in Tulare County is the Visalia Navigation Center. The low-barrier navigation center (LBNC) will have service-enriched living quarters focused on guiding residents into permanent housing.

“Funding is critical as we build out infrastructure to support our homeless population,” said Supervisor Larry Micari, Chair of Tulare County Board of Supervisors. “We appreciate Senator Hurtado’s work to secure these funds for Tulare County.”

The estimated building costs for the Visalia Navigation Center are $11.5 million and operating costs are estimated to be $1.5 million per year. Dollars like the funds secured by Senator Hurtado can only be accessed by cities or counties. The City of Visalia and the County of Tulare are two of the partner agencies for the Visalia Navigation Center.

“We are appreciative for this funding which will help further the county’s ability to strategically invest in housing programs to help our unhoused community,” said Jason Britt, Chief Administrative Office for Tulare County.

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Located in the heart of the Central Valley, Tulare County is situated in a delightful and geographically diverse region. There are a variety of opportunities for all-season outdoor recreation such as camping, hiking, water and snow skiing, fishing, and boating. The County has a growing population of 479,112 and includes an area of 4,863 square miles. Mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada range rise to more than 14,000 feet in its Eastern half, which is comprised primarily of public lands within the Sequoia National Park, National Forest, and the Mineral King, Golden Trout, and Domeland Wilderness areas. Meanwhile, the fertile valley floor in the Western half has allowed Tulare County to become the top producer of agricultural commodities in the United States. Learn more at www.GrowTulareCounty.org.

Senator Melissa Hurtado is Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and currently represents the 16th Senate District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Kern Counties. Website of Senator Melissa Hurtado https://sd16.senate.ca.gov/