The City of Milpitas has publicized information about actions it has undertaken recently to ease the local homelessness problem. The City has been active in ensuring expanded access to essential services, attending to the homelessness issue with local non-governmental organizations, and also boosting the level of new housing opportunities.
In a press release, Mayor Carmen Montano said, “The City of Milpitas is dedicated to creating a community where everyone can succeed and reach their full potential. Addressing the challenges faced by the unhoused requires a multi-faceted approach, and we are dedicated to providing the support that our residents need.”
As of now, the City works a great deal with WeHope, a local nonprofit that makes efforts to feed and shelter the unhoused while also assisting them in gaining access to permanent housing. The Dignity on Wheels Mobile Shower and Laundry Service, which residents have observed happening on Sundays on North Main Street, is provided by WeHope via funding from a grant facilitated by Assemblymember Alex Lee.
Meanwhile, there’s also the Milpitas Rent Relief Program, which provides emergency rental support to those in need, with the goal of ensuring that they can stay in their homes. Lee also secured one-time funding for this effort. And the newly launched Workforce Housing Rental Assistance Program utilizes $1 million-plus in state PLHA funds to provide monthly rental assistance to those who earn 30% or less of the area’s median income.
Additionally, every year, $600,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds come into Milpitas, to the benefit of not just financially challenged individuals in general, but also unhoused people and domestic violence victims.
The City has a housing team in place which actively pursues fresh sources of funding.
More information about the above-named programs and the City of Milpitas’s efforts to address homelessness can be found here.
