PACT TO ASSIST HOMELESS SHELTER OPERATORS TEAM WITH LUTHERANS.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The operators of Santa Clarita's defunct winter homeless shelter Monday withdrew their proposal from the city to create a soup kitchen in favor of collaborating with another local volunteer group to provide counseling and other services.

The Santa Clarita Community Development Corp., which lost the lease to its temporary shelter late last month, formed an alliance with Lutheran Social Services of Southern California to offer assistance and guidance for the estimated 175 homeless in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Both groups - and an Inglewood-based veterans service - are competing for $36,000 in funding in the city's call for homeless assistance proposals. The Santa Clarita City Council approved the grant after officials failed to secure a permanent site for the SCCDC shelter, and declined to renew its lease to operate at the Via Princessa Metrolink station, citing opposition from residents.

``The SCCDC has successfully operated the only emergency winter shelter in the SCV for seven seasons running, and was prepared to fulfill that vital role again,'' President Timothy A. Davis said in a statement. ``But the city's unfortunate decision to terminate the shelter's lease ... left us with no legal right to have a shelter this winter.

``After reviewing all three of the proposals submitted in response to the city's (request), our board of directors unanimously determined that the LSS proposal would provide the greatest immediate benefit to the homeless in our community.''

The Lutheran service group plans to bus local homeless to three permanent shelters in the San Fernando Valley and Downtown Los Angeles, while the SCCDC proposed a soup kitchen at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Canyon Country. Inglewood-based U.S. Veterans Initiatives is proposing homeless outreach in order to connect people with service agencies.

``LSS is very pleased to collaborate with the SCCDC to try to meet the needs of the homeless population of the Santa Clarita Valley,'' said Linda Malerba, a Lutheran program director and an SCCDC board member. ``LSS and SCCDC will work together to address the problems of the homeless holistically, until a permanent shelter site can be obtained.''

The SCCDC also is in talks with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority about managing a motel voucher program for the homeless, officials said. Fifth District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich ordered the joint city and county of Los Angeles agency to devise a plan last month.

``Antonovich recognizes the dire need confronted by the homeless of the SCV this winter due to the city's decision, and LAHSA contacted us last week,'' Davis said. ``We are working now to establish a program plan. But time works against us - and the homeless - this winter.''

Since 1997, the SCCDC has provided a seasonal shelter between December and March for the estimated 175 homeless men, women and children of the Santa Clarita Valley. The group had operated a shelter at the Metrolink parking lot for two years.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com