Santa Rosa Will Allow Some Meeting Halls To Shelter Homeless This Winter
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) – The Santa Rosa City Council has approved a new pilot program that would allow owners of certain types of properties to provide shelter and facilities for homeless people during the winter months, the city announced Wednesday.
The Community Homeless Assistance Pilot Program will allow owners of properties designated by the city's zoning code as a "meeting facility" to provide parking, portable toilets and temporary indoor shelter to those without a home, according to city officials.
The program will only be active from Nov. 1 to March 31, the city said.
Eligible properties include clubs, lodges, private meeting halls, community centers, religious facilities, civic and private auditoriums, grange halls and union halls, city officials said.
The city council concluded these types of facilities are ideal for the program because they are likely equipped to provide adequate services because of their existing use as a public assembly venue, according to the city.
Property owners interested in the program must register their property with the city's Department of Housing and Community Services.
For owners wishing to provide indoor services, such as shelter, an on-site inspection by the Fire Department must be completed. Permits and fees resulting from the inspections will be waived for the owners under the pilot program, according to the city.
"The intent of the program is to encourage participation by property owners interested in or already providing these services and to foster cross-sector collaboration to better serve vulnerable populations in our community," Director of Housing and Community Services Dave Gouin said in a statement.
The pilot program will work in coordination with another city-sponsored program that assists the city's homeless population, the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa's Homeless Outreach Services Team program. That program works to connect homeless people with services and ultimately housing, according to city officials.
Property owners wishing to participate in the program can pick up a program form at the Department of Housing and Community Services counter, located inside the Santa Rosa City Hall Annex at 90 Santa Rosa Ave, or on the city's website, city officials said.
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