Elk Grove Citycast
Elk Grove Citycast
Episode 2: Homelessness and Livability.com Accolades
Elk Grove was named one of the top 100 places to live in America by Livability.com. Learn more about these accolades and how the City is serving Elk Grove's unhoused population and putting new Measure E funding to work to help address homelessness. New CityCast host and Elk Grove resident, John Hull, will also ask about how to report city issues, learn more about the production of the city's July 4th celebration, and get a civics lesson about local government from Public Affairs Manager, Kristyn Laurence.
Welcome to Elk Grove Citycast, the podcast about Elk
John Hull:Hi, everyone, I'm John Hall. Welcome to Elk Grove Kristyn. Laurence, she is the city's public affairs manager
Kristyn Laurence:It'll be 10 this year.
John Hull:Congratulations. And you've seen our city grow
Kristyn Laurence:Yes, I have. It's a lot bigger than it used
John Hull:That's right. Well, when I moved here 24 years ago,
Kristyn Laurence:And if you ask the 2020 census, it was at
John Hull:Today you know we're going to talk about the people Kristyn, before we get to our guest, I want to take note that that list. Now what it does is it takes into account cities one of the best places to live in the US. Elk Grove is brimming Does something like this really mean a lot to not just the city
Kristyn Laurence:Well, that's a great accolade. Right. And I for the community, which is always a good thing. It might
John Hull:You know what else it says here is beyond economics. building practices. For example, in 2015, Elk Grove built the
Kristyn Laurence:Yeah, it's a green facility that is even materials that might might not otherwise be like something the other interesting part of it is the Reuse Room, which is the Reuse Room and our residents can go in and shop there. So
John Hull:And I was looking recently at the website, the Elk you used to have it and and yeah, what do you do with the mentions the anticipated opening in 2026 of dignity Health's Elk think the announcement came around the time of our State of just in somewhere else. So, again, it's a good an, let's outreach to the homeless was Sara Bontrager. Talk to anyone who drives the city streets around California soars jumping 9% in LA County and 10% in the city. In fact, discuss how we're dealing with people living unsheltered is
Sarah Bontrager:I am the housing and public services gives to nonprofit agencies that help Elk Grove residents to get a firm number because of the transiency of folks city. So what a bit less, that is quite a bit less. When we homelessness in Sacramento County. But of course for the
John Hull:Oh, yeah, we all agree with that statement. And
Sarah Bontrager:Yeah, so we have a range of resources. And could be something like a person taking someone to get an ID or a of paperwork that people need to become housed through the housing. So the navigators are kind of the front door for this transitional houses. So places where folks can stay for units in those affordable housing complexes.
John Hull:I want to quote something out of the Elk Grove funding from the city's affordable housing fund. And
Sarah Bontrager:Yes. So homelessness at its core is an actually have currently almost 700 units that are under nine what we call permanent supportive housing units. And And that might include case management, someone to help them
John Hull:This would be something that unique to what
Sarah Bontrager:Yeah, so the cornerstone village project has that does have some permanent supportive housing units as of folks, especially our families that are going to do disabilities. And that is a brand new thing for the city as
John Hull:And I'm encouraged to hear about this because my work resources for these individuals. And so I'm excited to hear about
Sarah Bontrager:Yes, yes. So we were extremely fortunate in the homelessness. We are using that money in a variety of ways. The continuing motel vouchers for folks. And then we're also shelter. But we also have funding allocated to services We are also looking at trying to improve access to mental health are also looking at doing some ongoing homelessness prevention landlord tenant disputes, can help them with the tasks of
John Hull:That's very true. And let me tell you, I'm excited to is to find the right resource for them. And so many times you you said to write to navigators, that's, that's going to be
Sarah Bontrager:Yeah, we would like for them to tell us when instances of that. Once we have our navigators hired and onboard possible, recognizing, you know, that many people move often and at threat of of doing harm, you know, it's perfectly okay for and friend relationships. And, you know, by the time they them, goes a long way to helping people feel safe in the
John Hull:For people that are experiencing homelessness, or have the best way that we have currently in Sacramento County,
Sarah Bontrager:We do encourage people who are worried about give that may help people pay their rent, a one time thing to starting point for folks who are imminently homeless or currently
John Hull:And I think you said something a few moments ago that is, I'm sure encouraged as a resident of Elk Grove to hear
Sarah Bontrager:Thank you. Happy to happy to help.
Unknown:Each CityCast I want to ask Kristyn questions that I publicaffairs@elkgrovecity.org. That's
Kristyn Laurence:I'm ready.
John Hull:Okay, here we go. Number one. I have neighbors and are required to do and maintaining property. But let's
Kristyn Laurence:Well, I would say the first approach I would hazard, there is a SeeClickFix Elk Grove app that's available if there's issues with pothole or trees down or things along submitted that it allows you to track that information. And our best to try and knock those concerns down. And our code and who's handling it.
John Hull:Okay. And again, the name of the app is...
Unknown:say,
Kristyn Laurence:See, click Fix Elk Grove.
John Hull:Okay. Next question we just experienced and I basically puts this annual celebration on for its all?
Kristyn Laurence:Sure, we're, like you said, we're just coming Like we just turned 23. So the party was going on much before 27th year. We even found a way to host it during the pandemic. various different aspects of the event that are involved. So we those holidays, we're already talking about fireworks and Group and some other local businesses in town that support charge $10, a vehicle to park in Elk Grove Park and all of that inexpensive event, but one that we find really contributes to
John Hull:May I say to even if the city did come out in the red kind of like, Hey, this is part of being an Elk Grove, you know,
Kristyn Laurence:It's also a really, it's a much safer the folks that that came to the park and avoided that.
John Hull:Okay, here's our third question in our rapid fire community service district. Along with most of our city
Kristyn Laurence:Sure. So Elk Grove has been a community mentioned earlier, our city's birthday was July 1, and we of residents felt like they didn't have local control over Elk Grove Community Services District. So it is a bit of a services for the city of Galt. So they cross city limits to
John Hull:So how are they governed? It's separate than the
Kristyn Laurence:That's correct. The CSD, like I said representative. It's a five member board. And that's in years the residents really wanted to see more local control important to them, as well as more control over our
John Hull:Right.
Kristyn Laurence:So back in 2019 and 1999 and then into functions that are separate from CSD.
John Hull:Alright, so there's your civics lesson for the day publicaffairs@elkgrovecity.org. dot O R G I'm Kristyn, before we sign off, I have to we'd be very remiss if that honor only. Well, I'm just gonna say only six Elk Grove I mean, it is very, very rare for anybody to be drafted by since Casey, we've had now five other guys and just on the ninth
Kristyn Laurence:That's awesome. We have so many amazing
John Hull:Yes, indeedy. Well, thank you for your time,
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