A Vision for a South County Homeless Services Center

With the support of the Community Foundation, the Klaproad Initiative Task Team completed an intensive six month planning process at the end of August 2010. They are now ready to share their vision and plan with the community, and to begin the process of developing a one-stop center that will coordinate and co-locate services for homeless and low-income people in the South County. The success of their plan will depend on the whole community working together, contributing and volunteering.

Task Team's report:

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Hugo and Erna Klaproad Fund Homeless Initiative

Seeking to Establish a New Homeless Service Facility/Campus in South San Luis Obispo County

Established in 2009 by a generous bequest of approximately $1.5 million from Hugo and Erna Klaproad, the Klaproad Homeless Initiative aims to support the development of a new, sustainable, and successful Homeless Facility or Campus in South County.

The Klaproads were former Oceano residents with a passion for helping their community. Hugo preceded Erna in death, and Erna instructed the Foundation “to provide shelter and other services to the homeless not otherwise provided by public or other benefits, with emphasis to be placed on the immediate relief and needs of the homeless in the Five Cities area of SLO County.” This is exactly what the Klaproad Homeless Initiative intends to do.

San Luis Obispo County’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness declares “helping [community members] exit homelessness for the long term requires not only assisting them in accessing housing, but also supporting them in obtaining the services they need to obtain ongoing health and stability.” The Klaproad Homeless Initiative intends to directly address the needs of the South County’s homeless population by supporting the coordination of a comprehensive array of services to help stabilize and move them into housing.

With the guidance of the Community Foundation, local leaders from an array of public sectors met for six months in 2010 to forge a comprehensive plan to establish a new Homeless Services facility or center in the Five Cities area. To read the Task Team’s report and recommendations, click on the link in the right hand column.

First Steps

Following the culmination of the Task Team’s work, the Five Cities Homeless Coalition submitted a proposal to the Community Foundation for various capacity building activities to prepare them to take on this important project.

In December 2010, the SLO County Community Foundation awarded a grant to the Five Cities Homeless Coalition to conduct a thorough search for potential properties in the South County. Working with local consultants and municipalities, the Coalition will be identifying sites and analyzing their suitability and viability. Stay tuned for reports on their progress.

In March 2011, the Community Foundation awarded a grant to the Five Cities Homeless Coalition to conduct a feasibility study. The study will determine the fund development potential for a capital campaign to build the Homeless Services Center and fundraising related to ongoing operations of the facility. Additionally, the Coalition has been funded to conduct Board Development and training in anticipation of the campaign.

The SLO County Community Foundation is investing in the strength of the community to create the conditions for success.

The Need for Enhanced Homeless Services

What’s happening right now in San Luis Obispo County

  • An estimated 3,800 people are homeless each night in San Luis Obispo County, including about 1,300 children. SLO County Homeless Enumeration Report 2009
  • 92% of homeless people in the county are unsheltered, living outside or in vehicles. 2007 SLO County Continuum of Care Application
  • About 19% of the county’s homeless are found in South County and over 40% of the South County homeless were experiencing homelessness for the first time. SLO County Homeless Enumeration Report 2009
  • 68% of those surveyed in South County had been homeless for more than a year. SLO County Homeless Enumeration Report 2009

* To learn more about the needs of the homeless in your area:

Movers and Shakers

A comprehensive list of the Klaproad Homeless Initiative’s Task Team members

  • Clay Appleton- Mission Community Bank
  • Thomas Clough- Five Cities Homeless Coalition
  • Susan Devine- Legislative Aide for Supervisor Adam Hill
  • Patti Diefenderfer- Five Cities Homeless Coalition
  • Betsy Ehrler- People’s Kitchen
  • John Elfers- SLO County Office of Education
  • Jim Guthrie- City of Arroyo Grande
  • Antonia Herrera- Active Community Member
  • Shelly Higginbotham- City of Pismo Beach
  • Peter Keith- South County Business Owner
  • Abby Lassen- California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
  • Mary Lucey- Oceano Community Services District
  • Joan McKenna- Arroyo Grande Community Hospital
  • Laurie Morgan- South County Services Affirming Family Empowerment
  • Tony Navarro- SLO County Planning Department
  • Bill Nicolls- City of Grover Beach
  • Laurie Saldaña- Food Bank Coalition of SLO
  • Mary Squellati- South County Services Affirming Family Empowerment
  • Jan Stone- Community Health Centers of the Central Coast
  • Dee Torres- Community Action Partnership of SLO Homeless Division
  • Valerie Valle- Five Cities Homeless Coalition
  • Janice Fong Wolf- SLO County Community Foundation

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