According to the Sacramento Bee, California officials are eyeing a $15 million plan to open 990 beds for homeless individuals and beef up services at encampments to try to prevent a coronavirus outbreak. The plan includes $13.7 million for new beds, including 850 in motels, 60 in state RVs at Cal Expo and 80 in existing shelters. Part of the funding, $9.5 million, would come from the federal stimulus package.
County health officials said last week they were not aware of any homeless individuals who had tested positive for coronavirus.
While the plan increases the county’s capacity to shelter the homeless during the crisis, no homeless have yet been moved into new beds, sparking criticism from activists. County officials last week told The Sacramento Bee that officials will likely start filling the first 80 motel beds next week. County officials did not immediately answer Tuesday when homeless could move into the 63 RVs that are now at Cal Expo or the 200 new beds in existing shelters.
Also included in the plan is about $1.2 million for 500 meals a day, 50 sanitation stations, transportation, outreach and other supplies at encampments, the report said. Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who said he wanted to see more beds added to the previous plan, said he was satisfied with the new comprehensive version.
“It is an appropriate and urgent public health response,” Steinberg said. “It is an aggressive plan.” Some people will need to stay in beds only a few weeks before finding permanent housing, allowing new people to move in, the mayor said.
“The challenge is to find permanent housing for people,” Steinberg said. “The opportunity is to actually multiply the 990 many times. It may be more tiny homes, may be hotel conversions, it may be buying some of these hotels and not just leasing them.”
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