JOBS PROGRAM GETS BIG PIECE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR GLENDALE
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
March 29 2006

GLENDALE – The City Council on Tuesday split up more than $510,000
in federal funds, with a youth employment program and an organization
that helps Armenians ending atop the recipient list.

The social services money was only part of the $6.1 million the city
is getting from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to
run housing, community development and homeless programs in the city.

But much of the rest of the funding was already divided up between
different programs and projects. On Tuesday, it fell to the council
to divide the social service money, after hearing pleas from
representatives of various charities wanting their share.

“There just isn’t enough money,” City Councilman Bob Yousefian said
in the middle of calculations to divide up the funds.

With HUD programs suffering cutbacks, the council will see its social
service money cut by $60,000 next fiscal year.

The council gave the biggest chunk of money – $100,000 – to the
Glendale Youth Alliance Inc. to run an employment program. The GYA
has given jobs and training to more than 1,000 teens and young adults
since its inception in 1993.

The council gave $50,000 to the Armenian Relief Society of Western
U.S.A. Inc. to bolster its programs, including English courses for
new immigrants.

Formerly homeless resident Lea Halberson, 36, pleaded with the council
to put money in Project Achieve, a 40-bed homeless shelter.

Halberson and her son now have a place of their own, and she is about
to start paying all her rent.

“I would never have thought 14 months ago when I walked in that door
(at the shelter) I would be where I am now,” she said.

Project Achieve, which receives other funding from the city, got
$30,000 Tuesday. Other recipients included New Horizons Family Center’s
after-school program ($45,000); the city-run graffiti removal program
($35,000); and a homeless program run by Catholic Charities ($30,000).

There were more than 20 recipients in all, including several city
departments that run social service programs.

City Councilman Frank Quintero abstained from the vote, citing
opposition to a committee’s recommendations for splitting the money,
and the other council members all voted for the funding break-down.