Inner City Action’s temporary homeless resource center conducted over 25 days was successful in getting homeless off the streets and into the non-profit’s programs aimed at getting them back on their feet and employed.

During the time they were at the former Qualex property at 555 Industrial Park Drive they were able to get 22 people off the street — including three youth — and into rehab programs and/or shelter. On Thursday a follow-up contact by Inner City Action got a 24th homeless individual off Manteca’s streets.

Pastor Frank and Kim Saldana who oversee Inner City Action viewed that as good news. The challenge, however, was to come up with proper beds for the 24 to sleep in as the influx all at once into their Stockton location overwhelmed them in terms of having enough furnishings.

When retired Manteca Police Chief Nick Obligacion who oversaw the rollout of the police department’s community resource officers to address homeless issues including working to get people off the street as well as addressing crime that the homeless commit hear about the need, he made a quick call to Manteca Rotary President Erin Nussbaumer.

A day later the Rotary Club, of which Obligacion is the immediate past president, approved spending $3,300 so Inner City Action could purchase 11 bunk beds.

The Rotary donation coupled with a $600 discount from Manteca Bedquarters allowed Inner City Action to pick up the 11 bunk beds complete with mattresses today.

 Pastor Saldana noted people in Manteca have been extremely generous.

“It cost us $500 a day for fuel (for the generator) to keep the tent warm,” Saldana said of the 25-day event.

Saldana said the community donated the funds to keep the generators running.

“People in Manteca are generous,” Saldana said.

The Manteca Police also are continuing to get homeless individuals off the street as well. This week community resource officer Mike Kelly was able to get a homeless man reunited with his family in Arkansas. After putting them in contract with each other and making sure they were willing to accept him into their home, Kelly secured funds from a private source to purchase a ticket.

Over the past 30 months, Manteca Police have gotten more than 220 individuals off the streets either into rehab programs, shelters, or reunited with family and in some cases even arranged jobs for them. That is in addition to enforcing laws that apply to everyone — sheltered or not — when various crimes are committed.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com