News Release

Rep Takano Announces $2 Million in Community Project Funding for Riverside County District 5

Congressmen Mark Takano recently announced that he has secured $30.5 million for community project funding for his 41^st district, $2 million of which will be aiding Riverside County’s 5^th district with the Moreno Valley Homeless to Work Program and the MoVal Emergency Shelter/ Rapid Rehousing Project.

These two projects are very special to District 5 Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez who championed and help implement the programs in Moreno Valley. He stated “It is great news for Moreno Valley and our 5^th district residents. I worked hard, along with the great staff at the City of Moreno Valley, to enact these great programs and I look forward to bringing these programs to the county level.” Supervisor Gutierrez also thanked Rep. Takano for fighting to secure these funds help Riverside County rebuild and revitalize after the Covid 19 Pandemic. “I want to thank Congressman Mark Takano for his continued commitment to his district and our county and for working together with me on this. He is a champion for his community.”

Congressmen Takano stated, “I’m thrilled to have secured $2 million in federal funding for Moreno Valley’s homeless programs through the Community Project Funding process, delivering critical assistance to the unhoused in our community,” “The innovative Homeless to Work and MoVal Emergency Shelter/Rapid Rehousing Programs will aid my constituents in securing gainful employment and safe housing, vital for an individual’s security and self-determination. I am honored to support these initiatives.”

The increased funding comes after a September 22^nd 2022 meeting between Supervisor Gutierrez (who was then Mayor of Moreno Valley) and Congressman Mark Takano who discussed potential expansion of these programs and continue to work together to expand the programs at the county level.

The $2 million in funding will be split evenly between the Homeless to Work Program and the MoVal Emergency Shelter / Rapid Rehousing Program. These programs will help the partnership between the City of Moreno Valley and The Salvation Army who work together to provide jobs and opportunities for homeless in the city. Rapid Rehousing is an additional approach to assisting individuals off the streets that has seen over 30 families move into permanent housing over the past year since its implementation in January 2022.

In the Homeless to Work Program, homeless are provided jobs with The Salvation Army beautifying the city. They also meet with Case Managers to build a case plan to work towards individual goals such as housing, further employment, addiction issues and reconnections with families. The Salvation Army becomes a community for these individuals and has helped over 100 people complete the program and almost 60 individuals move on to new, full time employment and stable housing.

The Salvation Army’s Director of the program, David Cain, stated, “Supervisor Gutierrez was at the center of everything and the core of implementing these projects in Moreno Valley when he was Mayor, and I want to thank him and Congressman Takano for everything they have done for these programs.” He added, “These programs have done so much to aid many homeless in Moreno Valley and these funds will go a long way towards continued efforts to help get people off the streets and back to being productive members of our community, back to families and friendships and opportunities and helps with addiction and mental health.” 

ABC 7 reported on the Homeless to Work Program in March of 2022. The City of Moreno Valley has seen a decrease in Homelessness by 53% thanks in part to these two projects.