Van Halsema News Today

A local organization believes the stigma around homelessness is preventing a large sum of people from receiving financial and housing assistance.

Saturday marks the five-year anniversary of the Wine Country Fires, a disaster that claimed the lives of 44 people, destroyed more than 6,000 homes, and is largely seen as the first major fire incident in a five-year period that produced multiple fire catastrophes across California.

That's because Mississippi still leads the nation in poverty. The US Census puts more than 20% of the people who live here below the poverty line.

Toward the end of August, tenants living in the Catherine Street apartments received a quick notice to pack up and leave their homes.

A newly emerged nonprofit organization is lobbying the board of supervisors for funds for a community homeless shelter.