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Assistant Administrator Baird was satisfied with the responses to his questions. <br />Mr. Van Mele stated that the next phase, the technical amendment period on the HUD grant, <br />is in September and possibly even in October. He would be very happy to work with staff during that <br />time in making any changes that are appropriate and acceptable. They have in excess of $220,000 <br />in commitments for matching funds; they have been working very hard and they cannot go backwards <br />on this HUD grant. The first (ESG) grant is to rehabilitate the existing facility at 720 4" Street <br />(Hibiscus Manor) after it is purchased. The HUD grant has over 400,000 other applicants. The <br />probability that we're going to get it is not very great, but the attitude is "Let's try." The <br />amendments that are necessary can be made in September/October; if it is delayed, the next <br />application and funding might come through in 2002. If the HUD grant is approved for this current <br />period, the 4' Street facility could be expanded. The present facility has only 12 beds, but over 1,500 <br />homeless in Indian River County can be documented for the past year. Nearly 1,000 have been <br />turned away by the Coalition and Samaritan Center. They have already worked with Planning <br />Director Stan Boling concerning what would be needed for an expansion. <br />Adele Zabrasky, Temporary Assistance forNeedyFamilies (TANF), a grant program, works <br />with children and families that are homeless living in tents, cars, trailers and wherever else, and assists <br />them in finding and staying in housing. She appreciated what Commissioner Macht said. She worked <br />at Samaritan Center for 8 years and agreed it was time to move on with it because people are still <br />living without housing and children are still hungry. <br />Commissioner Macht commented there should never have been any doubt about names <br />because the Commissioners were told from the beginning that the Coalition for the Homeless was <br />transitioning into a revised name. The Continuum of Care is a program. HUD requires more than <br />just providing housing. The Continuum of Care must be included so that the reasons for <br />homelessness are eliminated or at least mitigated. <br />Assistant Administrator Baird appreciated everyone's faith in him. In his 12 questions he was <br />only trying to protect the County. He thought we should try to move ahead, but suggested the <br />County Attorney's Office should review the documentation. <br />July 18, 2000 <br />85 <br />BK 1 14 PG 293 <br />• <br />