San Manuel Band of Mission Indians grant opens door for pet kennel at Victorville homeless shelter
Pet care and lodging will soon be available at a homeless shelter in Victorville thanks to a grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
The city of Victorville announced Wednesday evening that it had received the $50,000 grant from San Manuel for the construction of a pet kennel at the city’s interim homeless shelter at Westwinds Sports Center.
The kennel is expected to help eliminate pet ownership as a barrier to entry to the interim homeless shelter on George Boulevard across from Schmidt Park.
The city plans to convert a 480-square-foot modular restroom at the center into a climate-controlled kennel that will include an exam room, wash area and space for dogs and cats, according to a city press release. The kennel will also include a private, outdoor enclosure with access for pet owners and shelter staff.
The Victorville Animal Care & Control Division will help with animal care, oversee critical care needs, and provide free training for proper pet care and maintenance to shelter occupants, the city said.
“We are grateful to (the) San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their generous grant that will enable us to provide for pets at our interim homeless shelter,” said Victorville Mayor Debra Jones in a statement.
Jones said that with the necessary shelter in place, the city will be able to encourage more of the community’s homeless to take advantage of the facility and gain access to resources.
San Manuel Chairman Ken Ramirez said his organization partnered with the city to help address homelessness and change the lives of those in need.
“As a tribal value, we collaborate with our local housing partners and support service providers that work with homeless populations living within our Serrano ancestral lands, including the Inland Empire and high desert region,” Ramirez said.
Those interested in volunteering at the kennel or making a donation of food or supplies are asked to contact Amanda Delgado with Southern California-based nonprofit Illumination Foundation at 949-273-0555 Ext. 201.
Tackling homelessness
In April, the City Council approved the 92-bed homeless shelter at SCLA to provide services such as housing assistance and job placement for men, women and families.
During that time, the councilors also voted unanimously in favor of a roughly $1.1-million contract with the Illumination Foundation to operate the shelter.
The interim shelter began operating in June, and the city is using approximately $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to fund the operation.
The Victorville Council approved a Homelessness Solutions Action Plan in November 2019 in concert with the city’s Homelessness Solutions Task Force.
The plan was designed to expand homeless outreach and prevention programs while increasing enhanced shelter operations and affordable housing.
A cornerstone of the city’s plan is the construction of the Wellness Center Campus on First Street, between D Street and the Mojave River.
The City Council in September authorized staff to apply for a $35 million state grant that city officials say would fund construction of the Wellness Center Campus, which would be the largest homeless shelter in the High Desert.
The campus — proposed to be constructed near Eva Dell Park — would offer beds for 170 people who are either homeless or close to it, as well as provide support services, such as a medical clinic and job placement.
Victorville has had the second-highest homeless population in San Bernardino County for three straight years as of 2020, trailing only San Bernardino city in annual Point-In- Time counts.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians grant opens door for pet kennel at Victorville homeless shelter
