Multi-agency effort to help homeless this winter

UPDATE 10/5/2016 6:15 PM:

Agencies across the Central Coast are aiming to help the homeless this winter. Monterey County, the city of Salinas and Community Homeless Solutions are teaming up to open a winter warming shelter in Salinas.

The Transportation Agency of Monterey County (TAMC) owns the nearly 5,000 square foot building at 20 West Market. It is leasing the property for six months to Monterey County for a dollar a month.

“It seemed to be nicely located, close to Chinatown, close to Dorothy’s Kitchen and close to other facilities where sometimes these individuals go to,” said Monterey County Supervisor Simon Salinas.

In the next few weeks, crews will be renovating the property, ripping out old counters, painting and removing doors, all to make room for 68 beds. The shelter will run from Nov. 1 to April 30.

“So we’ll have certain areas for men, certain areas for women as we separate them and families will be isolated in other areas,” said Reyes Bonilla, executive director of Community Homeless Solutions.

Community Homeless Solutions is operating the warming shelter and will have it staffed round the clock. People will not only have a place to sleep, but a chance to get a warm meal and case management.

“There will be case workers there to try and work with them,” Salinas explains, “The homeless folks that are there that want to start applying for benefits, some type of housing that they could be eligible for.”

Despite the $6 lease agreement, the warming shelter is expected to cost $240,000, split between the county and the city of Salinas.

However, it’s merely a Band-Aid for the area’s bigger problem of homelessness.

“We know it’s not a solution,” Bonilla said. “We all know that. The county, the city, all the nonprofit organizations that are homeless providers know that this is not the solution but it is an alternative.”

There are plans to build permanent housing in Chinatown. Salinas city leaders are partnering with the Bay Area based developer Mid Pen to revitalize the area. The “21 Soledad” project will eventually have 90 units above commercial and retail space. There is also a 41-unit low income senior housing facility being built nearby.

ORIGINAL POST:

On Tuesday, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to open a temporary warming shelter this winter.

It’s an effort between the city of Salinas, Monterey County and the Community Homeless Solutions, who will operate the shelter on 20 West Market.

At a cost of $240,000, the shelter will provide meals and house 68 beds for men, women and families between Nov. 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more on this effort tonight at 5 and 6 p.m.