BLOCK GRANTS FUND VARIETY OF SERVICES.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry received $25,000 to buy its quarters. Theater Arts for Children was awarded $10,000 to help address fire safety.

The county's Newhall Community Center, which assisted more than 250 homeless or residents facing homelessness, got $31,000, and Carousel Ranch got $10,000 to add 10 kids to its therapeutic horseback riding program.

Each of the programs received funding through the city of Santa Clarita's Community Development Block Grant Program - federal money to help programs for the poorer communities.

``This grant has enabled our program to grow dramatically,'' said Denise Tomey, executive director of Carousel Ranch. ``It allows us to take in 10 more students that are on our waiting list.''

The nonprofit group based in Newhall uses horses as therapy for disabled youngsters.

``It moves their body in a way that traditional therapy wouldn't,'' said Tomey, adding that many of the kids who typically don't reach out will be encouraged to pet a horse. ``We set the same goals as typical therapy but with the horses as motivators.''

The agency started in the Santa Clarita Valley about four years ago with about 40 students. Each year, with the assistance of a community development block grant, the program has increased by 10 students.

``All of the children have made amazing progress,'' said Tomey, adding that the city is provided with quarterly updates on each child. ``We're truly grateful.''

This year, the Los Angeles County Department of Community and Senior Services' Santa Clarita Valley Service Center used a $31,000 block grant from the city to assist about 250 homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless.

``We will provide emergency resources including food and clothing,'' said Lupe Lopez, director of the center. ``We will provide information, and referrals about emergency short-term housing and transitional rehabilitation.''

In addition to assisting the homeless, the center surveyed them to find out who they are, where they came from and what services they need to get them back on their feet.

``We compiled a study on those statistics,'' Lopez said. ``We've already provided that to the city.''

This year the city provided eight service grants totaling $150,000 to local organizations, as well as capital grants of $650,000 to fund expansion and improvement projects and $200,000 in administration costs.

``It's great that we can do this,'' said Dennis Luppens, management analyst for the city of Santa Clarita in charge of the block grant program. ``It keeps these organizations going.''