SAN BERNARDINO – The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors today approved the allocation of nearly $3 million in grants to community based organizations for homeless prevention services. The allocation includes $1 million dollars for the Victorville-based High Desert Domestic Violence Program (HDDVP).

“I’m glad to partner with High Desert Domestic Violence in this effort,” said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, who is a member of the County’s Interagency Council on Homelessness. “Their demonstrated leadership, engagement with the community and concern for the less fortunate among us are traits I know they will continue to display as they reach out to local residents.”

San Bernardino County received the funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which allocated $1.5 billion nationwide as part of the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. The funds were distributed to local government agencies to provide financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or to help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized.

HDDVP will use the funds to provide rental assistance and utility payments for low-income individuals and families. Services will be targeted to residents in the cities of Barstow and Adelanto, as well as other First District unincorporated areas.

In order to identify those in need, HDDVP is partnering with the City of Barstow and local Barstow social service providers, Adelanto Community Tool Box, the Boys and Girls Club of the Victor Valley, and local churches. A new mobile office, created to efficiently distribute the funds, will be traveling to outlying communities to ensure that lack of transportation does not prevent anyone from receiving the help they need.

“I am proud that our Board of Supervisors and county staff acted quickly to secure this funding for the neediest in our community”, said Darryl Evey, Executive Director of HDDVP. “For those who are facing imminent eviction and utility termination, this is the relief they need to get a new start. We expect the first funds to be distributed before the holiday season.”

“It’s exciting to see this infusion of federal stimulus money into Barstow,” added Barstow Mayor Joe Gomez, who was appointed by Mitzelfelt in July to the County’s Interagency Council on Homelessness. “We are looking forward to collaborating with all of the partners in providing assistance for those in need.”

By: David Zook