FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2021
All 10 L.A. County projects championed by Congresswoman Barragán were approved by Appropriations subcommittees
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán announced she has secured inclusion of more than $7.5 million for 10 local community projects in three 2022 Appropriations subcommittee bills. This an important step, as the appropriations bills will be considered in the coming months.
“These are all important projects that will meet varied needs of my constituents in Southeast Los Angeles County. They will improve access to healthcare for underserved communities, advance early childhood education, fund services for homeless and housing insecure people, create green spaces in public housing, expand local gang prevention programs, and more,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “It is my honor to fight for the people of California’s 44th Congressional District in Congress and I will continue to work for the federal funding we need to make our community stronger.”
Below is a list of the local community projects in California’s 44th Congressional District that were requested by Congresswoman Barragán and are included in the Appropriations subcommittee bills.
Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
San Pedro Permanent Supportive Housing – YWCA Harbor Area ($2 million)
This project would build permanent, supportive housing for homeless women and children in the Los Angeles Harbor area of San Pedro. The funding requested would contribute to the demolition of an existing building, as well as the design, planning, and construction of a new permanent supportive housing site. The project also includes restoring and expanding the neighboring YWCA of the Harbor Area (YWCA) headquarters in San Pedro – to allow the YWCA to increase their capacity for childcare, workforce development programs, and health services. In addition to expanding YWCA’s services to reach more community members, the renovations of the headquarters will also provide direct access to services for the women and children who will live in the future supportive housing site.
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles – Greening Public Housing for the Future – Watts ($860,000)
This project, proposed by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, would significantly improve public health and wellbeing of the community through urban greening – supporting multiple green infrastructure developments to address long-standing environmental injustices in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. This project will develop a park network at the Jordan Downs public housing complex and a new outdoor field at the Nickerson Gardens housing community. The project also includes enhancing multiple community gardens throughout the neighborhood. The funding would also be used to provide additional tree canopy to provide more shade to combat the urban heat island effect.
HOPICS – Community Homeless and Housing Services Access Center – Compton ($250,000)
This project will assist homeless and housing insecure people in areas throughout the 44th Congressional District with meeting their food, health, and shelter needs. The funding requested will allow Special Services for Groups Inc. – Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care Services (HOPICS) to hire system navigators, case managers, and a program supervisor. Additionally, the funding would contribute to emergency services and operating expenses tied directly to the proposed project. The project also includes connecting vulnerable community members with the following support services: interim housing, eviction prevention, permanent housing subsidy groups, mental health, substance use treatment, employment and education support, and legal aid.
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Harbor Community Health Centers – Clinic at Linc Housing Project – San Pedro ($1 million)
This project would support Harbor Community Health Centers (HCHC) in the build out of a 4,900 square-foot health clinic, including 6-10 primary care and behavioral health exam rooms and an in-house pharmacy, at a future affordable housing site for low- and moderate-income families. This project would allow HCHC to expand upon their two existing centers in San Pedro, California by developing a location to serve an additional 3,000 or more patients annually – providing greater access to healthcare for populations who are already burdened with disproportionate risks for asthma, obesity and diabetes, as well as poor access to healthcare because of housing instability.
East Los Angeles College-South Gate Campus – Southeast Training Hub in Healthcare Careers ($925,000)
Funding for this project will allow East Los Angeles College (ELAC) South Gate Campus to develop a comprehensive training Hub with a focus on careers in health. This project would allow ELAC to establish a curriculum, train students, obtain necessary instructional equipment, and acquire a modular classroom with laboratory capabilities where instruction can take place. The Hub will assist students with obtaining job skills to prepare them for employment in the healthcare industry and will also implement a community health and wellness campaign.
Funding for this project would allow ELAC to provide free to low-cost training for students pursuing careers in nursing, physical therapy, and other medical professions, at the college’s satellite campus in South Gate, California. ELAC’s project would also provide work experience by connecting students to internships, enhance their career development through securing apprenticeships, and aid the students in finding employment in the southeast Los Angeles community. Additionally, this project includes the development and implementation of a culturally and linguistically competent outreach plan to educate community members on improving their overall health and wellbeing.
California State University, Dominguez Hills – College of Health, Human Services and Nursing Clinical Skills Laboratory Equipment Upgrade – Carson ($700,000)
The funding will be used to upgrade the clinical laboratories utilized by the Cal State Dominguez Hills College of Health, Human Services and Nursing. Upgrades include equipment, supplies, and medical simulation technologies to provide greater laboratory instruction and hands-on experience at the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor – Wilmington College Bound Program ($500,000)
This project would expand integral services for the Wilmington College Bound Program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor (BGCLAH) to further close the educational attainment gap in the low-income community of Wilmington. The funding would directly assist 1,000 high school students in the Los Angeles Harbor region with overcoming the socioeconomic barriers that interfere with their pursuit of attending college. Located in Wilmington, California, students from disadvantaged backgrounds will receive mentorship and one-on-one case management to prepare them for success with their goals of higher education. Students in the program will also participate in workshops, college tours, and other activities to aid their academic achievement.
City of Long Beach – Michelle Obama Public Library Services Expansion ($250,000)
This project will allow the Michelle Obama Public Library in North Long Beach to improve and expand its early childhood education and literacy services – providing the library with the resources needed to organize enrichment workshops, events, and other programs to contribute to the development of young children. The project will advance multilingual access to library resources by providing print and e-books in multiple languages, and creating multilingual signage and promotional materials.
BANJ Health Center Inc. – Uninsured Patient Care Program – Compton-Lynwood ($50,000)
This project will expand the reach of BANJ Health Center’s Uninsured Patient Care Program to an additional 800 uninsured residents. The requested funding would allow direct services to be provided to these new patients over a 12-month period. The primary goal of this program is to address the paramount health needs of underserved community members through two sites, located in Compton and Lynwood, California. Services provided through this program include pediatric care, as well as treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions.
Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Toberman Neighborhood Center – Violence Interruption through Gang Deterrence – San Pedro ($1 million)
This funding would allow the organization to hire additional staff and pay for expenses associated with the expansion of their services into new communities. This project would expand the gang prevention and intervention programs of the Toberman Neighborhood Center to help decrease the number of gang related retaliations, to increase communication between youth and police, and to decrease recidivism rates. The project would expand their services beyond the Los Angeles Harbor region. The intervention program is focused on decreasing the number of young community members, ages 10 through 15, who enter gang through facilitating the development, education, and employment of youth and young adults to reduce arrest rates and recidivism. The Toberman Neighborhood Center’s Violence Interruption through Gang Deterrence project will promote public safety and provide integral resources needed to reduce violence in our communities.
The inclusion of this funding in the Appropriations subcommittee bills is the first step in the funding process. Congresswoman Barragán will continue to fight for this funding as the bills move to the full Appropriations Committee, are considered on the House Floor, and negotiated with the Senate.
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.