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Council to consider homeless family housing projects
Park Street housing complex
The Turlock City Council will consider selling this duplex on Park Street to We Care to provide housing for formerly homeless families (KRISTINA HACKER/The Journal).

The Turlock City Council will consider two projects that would offer more housing options for homeless and formerly homeless families.

The first project is the sale of property located at 736/738 Park St., a duplex that was purchased and rehabilitated by the City of Turlock using federal Community Development Block Program funds.

The Council will consider selling the Park Street property to We Care, a local nonprofit organization, to create two units of affordable housing for formerly homeless families.

Soderquist housing complex
The Turlock City Council will consider selling this duplex on S. Soderquist Road to Family Promise of Greater Modesto to provide housing for homeless families (KRISTINA HACKER/The Journal).

The City of Turlock previously sold a four-plex on Lambert Way to We Care, which according to City staff, has been very successful in housing families in need. We Care has been able to utilize the rents received from the Lambert property to use as leverage for matching grants and allowed the organization to operate its shelter for homeless men 11 months of the year, instead of four or five months as it had previously.

The second project is the sale of property located at 808/810 S. Soderquist Rd., another duplex that was purchased and rehabilitated by the City of Turlock using federal Community Development Block Program funds.

The Council will consider selling the S. Soderquist Rd. property to Greater Modesto Interfaith Hospitality Network (Family Promise of Greater Modesto) to house homeless families for up to 24 months and then move them to permanent housing.

Family Promise is a nonprofit organization which provides opportunity for people from many faiths and backgrounds to provide shelter, meals and hope to local families in need. Their mission is to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.

According to a staff report prepared for the City Council, these projects will help with Turlock’s lack of both transitional and permanent supportive housing units for families who have previously been homeless. With the city currently having a less than two percent vacancy rate in residential rental property, it’s especially difficult for low-income individuals and families to find affordable housing. In addition, homeless and at-risk service providers reported having great difficulty finding landlords who are willing to rent to individuals who may not have good credit or a previous eviction.

On Tuesday, the Council will also consider:

  • Adopting a revised Supplemental Fee for Infrastructure Improvements required to implement the East Tuolumne Master Plan to reflect changes in the master plan and current project costs resulting in a lower master plan fee;
  • Accepting a donation of $7,000 from MedMen to be used for the City of Turlock Active Military Banner Program. MedMen is one of four companies chosen by the City Council to operate a cannabis dispensary in Turlock;
  • Receive an economic development update from Maryn Pitt, assistant to the city manager for housing and economic development.

The Turlock City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 156 S. Broadway. Council meetings are open to the public.