Permanent homeless shelter explored during Elk Grove City Council budget hearing
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2024/05/permanent-homeless-shelter-explored.html
Elk Grove's Enhanced Winter Sanctuary days before it opened last November 1. The city is now exploring a possible year-round permanent shelter. | |
Based on the success of the temporary program that ended on April 30, 2024, during a recent Elk Grove City Council budget hearing, the idea of a year-round homeless shelter was explored.
The comments were made by District 4 City Councilmember Sergio Robles and Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen. Both indicated support for a year-round permanent shelter to serve the city's burgeoning homeless population during a budget hearing during the May 22 Elk Grove City Council meeting.
See the video below for Robles and Singh-Allen's remarks.
On November 1, the city launched its first daily, around-the-clock homeless shelter. The so-called Enhanced Winter Sanctuary operated at a city-owned former drug store on the corner of Waterman Road and Elk Grove Boulevard in the city's Old Town district, which is now being converted into a library.
The site's operation was extended by one month, with this winter's operations ending April 30. The city has said it is seeking another location for next year's operation.
Although no specific time for implementation was discussed, Singh-Allen and Robles said they would like to see a permanent year-round homeless shelter included in the city's general budget. Singh-Allen also said she has been discussing a permanent shelter with city manager Jason Behrmann.
Before the shelter was opened last year, it met resistance from Old Town residents and merchants who said it would attract unsavory people to the community, endangering children. Many opposed to the shelter also forced the city to reject the Oak Rose supportive housing project, which has generated an ongoing lawsuit against the city by California Attorney General Rob Bonta for breaking state fair housing laws.
Even though there was resistance, none of those opponents appeared at city council meetings during its operations to complain about the facility. The city contracted with Roseville, Calif.-based Gather Inn to operate the shelter and provide wrap-around social services for clients.
1 comment
Screw the people, it's all about spending hundreds of millions for some zoo animals!
Post a Comment