During the past several years, the collaborative efforts of government agencies, the Merced City and County Continuum of Care, and many non-profit groups have created HOPE in Merced County for a better future for unhoused individuals. County, City, and State agencies have developed programs to provide help for the unhoused. Along with these agencies, non-profit groups such as the Catholic Charities, Community Action Agency, Healthy House, Merced Rescue Mission, Mission Merced, Salvation Army, Sierra Saving Grace, and Turning Point Community Programs are also helping. Due to the collaboration of these government agencies and non-profit groups, providing a bed for every unhoused person in Merced County within the next few years is now a possibility.
The County, through the Human Services Agency, the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, the Probation Department of Merced County, and the Merced County Housing Authority are all working to help unhoused people. Expanding the number of available beds began just over two years ago when the County of Merced opened the Merced Navigation Center. Operated by Mission Merced, the Navigation Center provides 76 beds for unhoused people and is a low-barrier, service-rich environment that accommodates a person, their partner, pets, and possessions. The Navigation Center operates at capacity a good share of the time and is exploring a way to add an additional 25 beds. The “D” Street Shelter also provides services for up to 60 unhoused people utilizing a similar “Navigation Center” model.
There are also other programs and efforts to provide beds for the unhoused. Merced County’s “Bridge Housing” program, operated by Mission Merced, has houses with services for unhoused people. This program provides housing for people in the cities of Merced and Los Banos and is also expanding to the unincorporated areas of the county. The City of Merced has also helped with the completion of its “Retreat Affordable Housing” program just over a year ago which added 119 units of housing to our community. Of these units, 30 of them were designated for people experiencing homelessness and high utilizers of health care services.
The State of California’s “Home Key” program has also been a great help in providing funds for two projects. The first project consists of 96 units of housing on “V” Street where a motel is being remodeled into studio apartments. The second project is on “R” Street near Childs Avenue and will provide 20 studio apartments for unhoused veterans. The “Home Key” projects are expected to be completed in the fall. Other projects which will provide more housing are also being explored.
The Merced Rescue Mission has provided housing for unhoused people in Merced County as well. In March of 2022, the Mission’s Village of Hope Campus-Phase One began serving the community. As part of Phase One, the “Hope Respite Care” program provides 32 beds for unhoused people being discharged from Mercy Medical Center Merced (Dignity). Phase One also includes ten apartments for unhoused veterans and ten apartments for unhoused families with young children. The Village of Hope Campus-Phase Two, the faith-based side of the campus, will provide 32 beds for the Mission’s “Hope for Men” program and 32 beds for the “Hope for Women” program. Additional space for a computer lab, classrooms, a chapel, and offices will also be included. The Merced Rescue Mission also serves in Los Banos with a “Respite Care” home that provides 9 beds for unhoused people being discharged from Sutter Memorial Hospital.
Collaboration is the key to success in providing HOPE for a better future for residents of Merced County. No government agency or non-profit group can meet the needs of the unhoused by itself, but as agencies and groups work together, more opportunities to help the unhoused can be created. The total existing and proposed projects make it possible, if even for a moment in time, that we will have enough resources to provide a bed for every person experiencing homelessness in Merced County. It is great to see what can be accomplished when government and non-profits all work together. Merced is on its way to a brighter future for all our residents.