The recent passage of the state budget may prove to be good news for the Los Baños Rescue Mission.
The facility is hoping to receive word this week on whether it will get funding that will allow it to purchase its location and extend its efforts to help the under-privileged.
"We were awarded a grant from the state," said Steve Hammond, the mission's executive director. "We're hoping for $1 million."
Hammond said the grant funding was previously frozen because of the state not having an approved budget. He said he has no idea if the state is going to give the mission the seven figures it requested or a lesser amount.
Any additional money would help the rescue mission's situation.
The property where the Los Baños Rescue Mission is currently located was in foreclosure last August.
The 1231 Fourth St. property was issued a Notice of Default on Aug. 27. Documents in the Merced County Recorder's office indicate that as of Aug. 22 the amount owed on the property to prevent it from being sold off was $68,548. Hammond said the property is no longer in foreclosure but he is awaiting word on how much it will cost the mission to buy it.
The property, which was owned by Victory Outreach church, had been rented to the Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army since 2007. Hammond, who is also involved in the local Salvation Army, said for the past few months rent has been paid directly to the property's lender, University Investors of San Jose.
In what he admits may be a sign of how bad the economy has become, Hammond said the mission is serving more meals every month. Hammond said last month 1,900 meals were served.
"We're hearing the same thing from other rescue missions across the Valley, their numbers are up," Hammond said.
Even if the mission gets enough money to stay at its location it may still have to move.
The city is reviewing the housing element of its general plan, which will include an area designated for homeless services.
So far Hammond is encouraged by the inclusion of the Fourth Street address in the housing element document.
"After all the public hearings our site is on that map. It will be presented to the City Council that way," Hammond said.
The Rev. Chris Castaneda, who heads the local chapter of Victory Outreach, wrote in an e-mail that his group has scaled back but not eliminated its work in Los Baños.
"We are still operating in Los Baños and we are looking for another building to move into. For the time being, we have scaled back on our services and activities until we relocate and settle in to another place. We are focusing on re-organizing our ministries and establishing new goals for 2009," Castaneda wrote.