PLANS FOR HOMELESS UNDER REVIEW BY CITY.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The city of Santa Clarita is reviewing three proposals to help local homeless people, including one that would bus them to three shelters in the San Fernando Valley and downtown Los Angeles, officials said Monday.

The plans include a homeless-busing program by Lutheran Social Services of Southern California; a proposed soup kitchen from the Santa Clarita Community Development Corp.; and a service referral program from Inglewood-based U.S. Veterans' Initiatives.

They were received last week after a call for proposals from any nonprofit group that could assist the city's homeless, especially during the winter months.

The City Council approved $36,000 for alternate plans after officials failed to secure a permanent site for a seasonal shelter operated by the SCCDC. The group's lease to operate a shelter at the Via Princessa Metrolink station expires Monday.

``(Funding) is going to be based on the organization's experience in providing services to the homeless population, the kind of programs they're proposing,'' said Tina Haddad, a city management analyst.

The city staff plans to submit a recommendation at the Nov. 23 City Council meeting. Also, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a joint county and city of Los Angeles agency, is creating a plan to help the region's homeless under the direction of Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Under the busing proposal, the Lutheran service group would organize two bus stops in the city, from which the homeless would be taken to one of three permanent homeless shelters - L.A. Family Housing in North Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission in Van Nuys and the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles.

Besides providing access to simple shelter, Linda Malerba, the church group's local program director, said its plan helps connect the homeless with services such as the counseling offered at these larger facilities.

``If they're getting shelter, they could also be offered long-term services,'' she said. ``Some homeless people are content with their lifestyle. They just want to stay warm in a place.

``But for families that might not have a break, it would be ideal for them. They need the resources.''

In the meantime, the SCCDC has proposed to feed the homeless through a winter soup kitchen operated in partnership with Lutheran Social Services at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The program would provide hot meals, counseling and sundries for between 50 to 75 homeless people.

While the SCCDC appeared to have downsized its relief efforts, officials said they're still searching for a permanent spot to reopen their shelter.

The U.S. Veterans' Initiatives, a nationwide veterans' service group that operates shelters in Inglewood and Long Beach, is proposing homeless outreach in an attempt to connect people with service agencies.

``We're interested to getting the services in other cities,'' said Monica Guthrie, the group's outreach director. ``We're hoping this is the start of really bringing homeless services to the city.

``We really just want to connect people to all these services so they don't have to be homeless - so they can rebuild their lives. Once we start getting the word out to the homeless situation, it's just about communication to all the service providers.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com