Page 36 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2019

Rapid Rehousing Assistance for Flood Recovery
“We learned so much from the fires,” she told the Fifth District Office. “There’s so much immediate need in the first four to six weeks. It’s not unfamiliar to not know what to do.”
While the county continues to wait for Federal Emergency Management Assistance, our local government and nonprofit providers are stepping in.
On Tuesday, March 19, the Board of Supervisors approved an award to West County Community Services (WCCS). The grant has enabled WCCS to establish a Flood Survivor Rapid Rehousing Program. The case manager assigned to this program will work with clients to:
• Locate housing and provide limited move-in assistance for those who cannot
Kendall said that, especially in the flood recovery process, it’s also not uncommon for it to feel really smooth and then all of a sudden, interrupted by an unknown roadblock.
currently live in their damage home and need to relocate as a result
• Assist low-income homeowners with mini-grants ($3,000 max) for housing
repair that will help return their units to habitability
The case manager will help potential clients determine their eligibility,
And for flood recovery, it can be a daunting process that includes: • Help with insurance
• Help with reconstruction, including hiring contractors
• Help with landlord or tenants’ issues, including tenants’ rights
• Help with price gouging
• Help with employment issues
develop a budget and a housing plan.
“Not every client will receive the same thing,” Tim Miller, WCCS executive
director told the River MAC during a special meeting on Thursday, March 21. “But this a low-barrier, quick response. That is a transitional program that gets people back into housing that is the same or similar to what they had” prior to the flood.
But, you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re a victim of the February floods and need assistance wading through insurance, tenant’s issues, or anything in between, contact Kendall at kjarvis@legalaidsc.com.
Additional information can be found at westcountyservices.org/housing- services.
MAC Updates
Support for Local Businesses
Both municipal advisory councils serving the River and Coast communities kicked off at the end of February/beginning of March. The River held its
first meeting as the first rain of the historic flood began to fall. Unafraid to
get their feet wet—literally—the River MAC representatives and alternates worked alongside our office throughout the flood event, providing us with vital intel about who needed help, when, and where. After the floods, they held another meeting, providing an opportunity for the community to learn about important recovery services.
Refusing to wait for the federal government to step in with FEMA disaster support, the Russian River Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa Metro Chamber and Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce united with a handful of other supporters to establish a small business relief fund for our small businesses affected by the floods in both the lower Russian River area and
in the Barlow. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy; thanks to the New Vision Foundation, the Lazy Bear Fund (lazybearfund.org) and the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, small businesses will be able to apply for small grants to help with getting back on their feet. For more information, contact Elise Van Dyne at the Russian River Chamber at elise@russianriver. com.
In April, the River MAC will invite the Lower Russian River Watershed Citizens Advisory Council to discuss the upcoming changes to the Russian River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), a state water quality regulation impacting septic owners in the lower Russian River. In addition, the River MAC will ask the Department of Transportation and Public Works to discuss road repair and maintenance as part of the flood recovery process. Sign up to receive the agenda or updates about the River MAC by visiting sonomacounty. ca.gov/lrrmac.
Just what IS Legal Aid?
Sonoma County is becoming aggravatingly familiar with natural disasters. Ask Kendall Jarvis, Disaster Relief Attorney with Legal Aid of Sonoma County, who spoke in Sebastopol during the city’s community flood recovery meeting last month.
That’s where Legal Aid comes in.
“We’re not just the service where you hire an attorney and sue someone to go and make everything alright,” Kendall said. “That’s not how it works.”
“We listen to people’s stories and help them understand what their problems are and either what to watch out for or how to best advocate for a solution,” Kendall said. “A lot of people don’t know where to go, and we’re there to help navigate them through this process.”
Instead, Legal Aid takes a holistic approach.
The Coast MAC kicked off in March, holding two meetings in Bodega Bay at the beginning and end of the month. On March 7, Caltrans presented on the Draft Transportation Concept Report (TCR) for Highway 1. Check out last month’s column for more information and reach out to your MAC rep, who is actively seeking your input on the report.
The next Coast MAC meeting will be Wednesday, May 15 at 5 p.m. at the Fort Ross Elementary School Gymnasium. Learn about upcoming Coast MAC meetings by visiting sonomacounty.ca.gov/sccmac.
Speed limit change around Andy’s Unity Park
In response to community concerns, the Sonoma County Department of Transportation has lowered the speed limit on West Robles Way by Andy’s Unity Park to 25 mph. The change went into effect on Wednesday, March
20. The California Highway Patrol, which is the agency responsible for law enforcement and traffic control in unincorporated Sonoma County, will begin to enforce the new speed limit on April 20.
COAST MARATHON UPDATE
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the future. Refunds will be issued to all who had
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g n n e e d d u u p p t t o o p p a a r r t t i i c c i i p p a a t t e e . . S S T T A A Y Y T T U U N N E E D D. .
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At the March 31st Coast MAC meeting, Blistering Pace Race Management principles in charge of
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producing the marathon did not attend. Although
the race will not be held this year since they were unable to get permits, etc. necessary, there is still potential for them to come back with permits in
36 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 4/19