The City of Bakersfield has received a great honor today, by being highlighted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development among just a few national "success stories" in the implementation of President Barack Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program--particularly the Rapid Re-Housing Component.
A write-up about the success of the City of Bakersfield and its local direct service delivery partners is currently featured on the HUD Resource Exchange Website. Click on this link to read it. A notification was sent out by HUD through its list-serve, which has national reach, this morning. Census Committee Chair Jim Wheeler, Executive Director of the City of Wasco Housing Authority, brought it to the attention of others in the Collaborative.
City of Bakersfield Community Development Department Development Assistant Tricia Richter praised the efforts of City HPRP subcontractee Bakersfield Homeless Center and sub-sub-contractees Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Flood Bakersfield Ministries and Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance in an e-mail to the General Membership of the Homeless Collaborative.
"Especially the vendors of services provided to the homeless folks of the community who did the front line work receive full credit," she said. "Needless to say, most of us recognize that it took major efforts by the vending agency and support agencies to accomplish this more-than-overwhelming job. Thank you all for your support through this process."