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Council grants 120-day extension to Catholic Charities’ Working Hands program, seeks detailed financials
Summary
After testimonials from program participants and detailed budget questioning, council extended Catholic Charities’ PLHA-funded Working Hands contract 120 days and directed the agency to provide actual expenditures and a rebudgeted plan before further action.
El Centro — The City Council voted to extend by 120 days a contract with Catholic Charities for the Working Hands workforce program, conditioning the extension on production of detailed financial reports and a rebudget based on actual expenditures.
Adriana, the city presenter on PLHA funding, told the council the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) is a multi-year state funding stream the city is using for several homelessness-related activities and that, across the next years, the city expects approximately $2.77 million programmed for eligible housing activities. The Working Hands pilot, managed by Catholic Charities, began in 2024 to combine temporary employment, case management and housing navigation for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Antoinette Bellen of Catholic Charities summarized first-year program outcomes: of 17 people enrolled since the program began, 9 obtained housing and several secured employment or were near employment. She said the program adjusted screening and added an assistant manager to increase capacity. Two participants, Vanessa Lara and Laura Heneka Avila Castro, provided testimonials describing transitions from homelessness to housing and employment and credited Working Hands with providing stability and dignity.
Council members pressed Catholic Charities on line-item questions in the pilot-year budget: a projected $386,000 total, with staffing, stipends for participants and a large food/meals line among the items. Catholic Charities acknowledged those figures were initial projections for a pilot and said actual year-to-date expenditures were lower (staff reported claims and financial summaries during the Q&A). Antoinette said the nonprofit would be willing to produce detailed invoices and reconciled actuals for the council’s review.
Given the outstanding budget questions and a contract expiration date of Feb. 20, councilors debated options ranging from immediate renewal to a short administrative extension. The council ultimately passed a motion to extend the agreement for 120 days so Catholic Charities can submit the requested financial documentation and a recalibrated budget, with a recorded vote of 4 in favor and 1 opposed.
Council direction asks staff and Catholic Charities to return with reconciled program actuals, a rebudgeted proposal if the program continues, and clearer performance metrics. Catholic Charities said it will provide the requested reports and documentation during the extension period.
By allowing a time-limited extension rather than an immediate long-term renewal, councilors said they were balancing the recognized benefits to individuals who participated in Working Hands with their fiduciary responsibility to ensure public funds are spent efficiently.
