OCEANO, Calif. - A new Community Services Center in Oceano? We the 5Cities Homeless Coalition will present plans at a special meeting to talk about it. The Coalition plans to announce the idea at meeting on Tuesday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oceano Community Services District Office.
According to the Coalition has entered into a 24-month escrow to purchase a property in Oceano where a proposed services center would be built. At this meeting with the Oceano Advisory Council the Coalition will present a plan for the center.
The South County Services Center envisioned by the 5Cities Homeless Coalition focuses on the needs of the homeless, and is also intended to be resource for the entire community. It will be open to all who seek the services that are offered. At the South County Community Services Center the proposed 20,000 square-foot one-stop facility will include: literacy programs, veteran's services, disability benefits counseling, parenting education, health services, mental health counseling, job training and education classrooms, state of the art computer and career assistance lab, health clinic, daily meals, support to acquire housing, shower and laundry facilities, children's center and playground, commercial kitchen, and support agency offices. The design for the proposed center is for day use.
A center of this nature was identified in 2008 in the County's 10-year plan to address homelessness, Pathways to Home. The plan envisioned three Human Services Campuses providing centralized access to comprehensive services through a network of primary responders coordinating a single case plan for each client and facilitating linkage of services with housing.
Engaging the community in the planning process is a high priority of 5Cities Homeless Coalition. It is the intent of the Coalition to engage interested community stakeholders to share the proposed services of the center, hear community concerns, and to identify additional services to meet community needs. The start of escrow is the beginning of a 24 month process to acquire the land necessary for the Center, community outreach and engagement to define what's important to the community, and to finalize the design and services to be offered.
It is the mission of the 5Cities Homeless Coalition to strengthen the south San Luis Obispo County community by mobilizing resources, hope and support for the homeless and those facing poverty. For additional information please visit www.5chc.org.
