OCEANSIDE — The North County LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) Resource Center is a step closer to moving into a larger space, after the City Council approved $137,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for renovations to the center’s future facility.
The funds will pay for infrastructure and interior walls to be added to the unfinished city-owned building on 3220 Mission Ave., which shares the site with La Mision Village Apartments and North County Health Services.
The 2,400 square feet building is almost twice the size of the present facility, and monthly rent will be about half. This allows more support programs and activities to be held.
“This project will double the space, and more than triple outreach and services,” Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said.
It’s been a goal of Max Disposti’s, the LGBTQ Resource Center executive director, to operate out of a larger facility and provide more services for quite awhile. The nonprofit opened on North Coast Highway in 2011, and has since outgrown the space.
The center currently runs 22 programs. The center provides LGBTQ resources, support groups and services for elderly, youth, HIV/AIDS patients and women.
Disposti was not at the City Council meeting, but said in an earlier interview that some programs have been on hold because of lack of space at the present site.
A new program to be launched at the Mission Avenue location focuses on healthy eating, and includes regular stops by a catering truck that sells nutritious meals for $2.
The resource center also received a grant to begin a program to prevent and fight human trafficking
A soft opening and fundraiser for the new Mission Avenue location was held in December 2015 to announce the future move.
Awarded funds allow the move to happen. The listed target date for facility renovations to be completed is June 30.
The council voted 4-0 to approve funds on March 16. Councilman Jack Feller abstained.
