EUREKA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

The City of Eureka has granted the North Coast Veterans Resource Center (NCVRC), a division of Vietnam Veterans of CA (a non profit organization) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the development of a public facility benefiting individuals in the lowest targeted income group, homeless veterans.

The project involves the renovation and demolition of existing buildings on a 9,147 square foot site in Eureka, to be used for the proposed Veterans Resource Center. The property is zoned Service Commercial with a Live Work Combining District and is located on the north side of 4th Street in Eureka between B and C Streets. Goals of the project are:

• Rehabilitation of the buildings on the site to the extent appropriate for the project objectives to provide additional housing options for TIG beneficiaries (homeless veterans)

• Provide ADA access

• Create on-site parking spaces

• Provide kitchen facilities

• Provide classroom space and a computer lab

• Provide public services activity, transitional housing and reintegration programs

The new facility will allow the NCVRC to expand the transitional housing facilities available for homeless veterans. The new facility will be in addition to the housing currently located at 919 E Street, Eureka, CA 95501 which provides 12 beds. Eligible veterans may be housed up to two years as needed. This form of housing is encouraged by the Eureka General Plan, Housing Element. Affordable housing is one of the major difficulties facing homeless Veterans. The proposed facility will provide beds to 34 homeless veterans, as well as program services.

The total project cost of the public facility is estimated to be $2,579,458. CDBG funding will provide $876,250 towards the construction of the project, and $201,000 for building acquisition, with the remainder of the funding coming from other public and private sources including $254,985 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair, a loan of $1,000,000 from the State Emergency Housing Department, and $247,223 from the Federal Home Loan Bank – Affordable Home Program.