The Huntington Beach City Council recently voted in favor of buying a warehouse and converting it into a shelter for the homeless.
On a vote of six to one, the council agreed to spend $2.85m to buy a warehouse on Pipeline Lane, near McFadden Avenue and Springdale Street, which is an area used for light industry. The structure offers 11,200 square feet.
The proposed shelter would have between 75 and 90 beds, which would be available only to couples, women, or men who were pre-screened. Those admitted to the shelter would only be able to live there for 90 days, except in those cases where they had found permanent housing, but were still waiting for approval. Facilities like this can use brochure printing to illustrate their services.
The shelter would ban walk-in and walk-out activities, and those living at the shelter would be shuttled to meet with providers of services like counseling, healthcare, and job training. Officials also noted that the shelter would mostly serve those who already have a connection to the city, such as having children attending local schools, or who once rented in Huntington Beach.
A number of residents who attended the public meeting expressed concerns, but officials said that while they understood the residents, establishing the shelter is the right thing to do. It is not only humanitarian, but also takes the homeless off the streets and provides them with access to services they need.
