MARTINEZ (KRON) — Contra Costa County will soon lose a valuable homeless program because the founder of the organization said there is a lack of funding.
Some in law enforcement said this move may have a negative affect on crime.
As private donations and funding from the county have dried up, founder Doug Stewart said he has no choice but to pack his family up and move to Arizona the summer. That puts an end to a more than 12-year run as the founder of Contra Costa Homeless Outreach.
KRON tagged along with Doug many times over the years, as he and two other full-time staffers spent six nights a week stopping by homeless encampments, handing out food, water, blankets, and offering shelter.
Martinez’s police chief said Doug’s departure will be a tremendous loss for his city and others. The chief said he is not sure if crime will go up, but he said that the homeless community will certainly have fewer options to get help, and Doug agrees.
Over the years, Doug said he has spent more than $50,000 dollars of his own money on this program.
He said the program will end on July 1.