'One size does not fit all': What to know about Redding's plan for temporary homeless shelter
The Redding City Council on Tuesday night will consider a second temporary shelter to house people transitioning out of homelessness.
The Mark Street Emergency Site would be at 3211 Mark Street behind the Redding Area Bus Authority headquarters. RABA owns the property and has signed a two-year lease with the city for the purpose of the temporary micro-shelter.
The council earlier this year approved micro-shelter units on the property of St. James Lutheran Church in east Redding. The first phase of Goodwater Crossing, which has yet to open, calls for four shelters and a total of five residents.
In June 2021, the council passed an ordinance that declared a "shelter crisis" in the city, a designation enabling officials to set aside housing sites for emergency sleeping cabins, which are equipped with electricity and internet service. Residents also will get health care and assistance finding permanent housing.
The Mark Street shelter would be operated by United Way of Northern California and include eight single-occupancy sleeping cabins.
“One of the things about working (with the homeless) and to understand what is going on in homelessness, you have to get down and do the work,” United Way of Northern California President Larry Olmstead said.
United Way in 2021-22 took part in what Olmstead called “a significant” project in Butte County that used hotels to shelter about 250 people.
“It was important for us because it was our first project where we were managing the delivery of services to this population,” he said. “We learned a lot and it was a successful program.”
Another important takeaway, Olmstead said, is it’s difficult to help people who are homeless if they don’t have a roof over their head.
“You got to get folks into a safe situation and a stable situation, and then you can bring in services to help folks,” he said.
What distinguishes the temporary emergency shelters from the Good News Rescue Mission, currently the city’s only homeless shelter, is they provide a secular solution for homelessness.
Olmstead said the Good News Rescue Mission provides a valuable service to the community, noting that “they have a challenging job and do it well.”
“Homelessness is a complex thing and there are many reasons for it. One size does not fit all,” Olmstead said. “The Good News Rescue, they have a faith-based mission, they have their own standards and that’s all great … but our community needs more than one option.”
As part of the approval of the Mark Street shelter, the council will be asked to authorize City Manager Barry Tippin to negotiate a one-year sublease with United Way that would include a one-year renewal option.
Tippin also would negotiate with Shasta County an agreement to use $300,000 in county American Rescue Plan Act funds and designate $150,000 of that money to United Way to operate Mark Street.
The city’s division has spent $101,318 to purchase eight pallet shelters and installed security fencing, electricity, and road improvements to get the Mark Street shelter ready.
“United Way is confident that the first-year operation of the EHS (emergency housing site) should not exceed $400,000, and will be providing $250,000 toward the cost,” a report council said.
Olmstead estimates the emergency shelter could open in late January or early February.
“We will be responsible for having staff on site or on call 24/7,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding considers plan for a second temporary homeless shelter
