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Guidance Center and local pastor present CDBG applications; council hears other community reports
Summary
During citizen communications, representatives from the Guidance Center and Pastor Darren Burns described programs seeking Community Development Block Grant funds and outlined services ranging from mental-health care to job-readiness efforts.
At the March 24 meeting the council heard presentations from CDBG subrecipient applicants and community organizations describing proposed uses for federal Community Development Block Grant funds and other community services.
A staff member read a statement from the Guidance Center describing the agency’s local programs: the Guidance Center said it operates 24 programs and serves more than 16,000 people annually across its service area, and that in the previous fiscal year it provided mental-health or substance-use services to 642 Lincoln Park residents. The Guidance Center also reported that its Lincoln Park Early Learning Center provided Head Start and Early Head Start preschool education to 152 children and families. The statement noted the agency houses the Kids Talk Children’s Advocacy Center that serves children who have experienced abuse, neglect or who witness violent crime.
Pastor Darren Burns of [a local church] spoke in support of two applications his organization submitted for CDBG funding. He said the church runs programs that provide nonperishable “homeless bags” for people who are housing-challenged and that it has launched a program called Embrace Grace to support young mothers. He also described a job-readiness program the church proposes—partnering with employers to develop resumes, soft-skills training and placement opportunities for residents who face transportation and other barriers.
The council also received other community updates: the housing commission report, historical commission fundraising results, and notices about upcoming community forums and centennial events. Council members encouraged residents to attend a community forum on March 31 at Lincoln Park High School that will bring service providers together to help residents learn about available local resources.
Council members and staff asked that questions about the presented organizations be sent to staff for follow-up; one staff member provided an email (mguerrero@citylp.com) to receive inquiries and said questions would be forwarded to the applicants.
