We commend the Homeless Task Force and county officials for pursuing the former convalescent hospital on Southside Road as a much-needed permanent homeless shelter, but we encourage supervisors to move ahead with utmost expediency because every day literally matters and widely affects the overall quality of life in this area.
The Homeless Task Force suggested the old hospital facility, a county property, because it comes equipped with necessary structural needs of a shelter, such as a full kitchen, to replace the seasonal facility at the nearby migrant camp.
The building fits well and is located in a reasonable location outside of the downtown and commercial areas. Members of the homeless population also have publicly supported the move.
Task force volunteers deserve credit for finding the building, and we expect supervisors to continue expressing support and moving it forward.
But we also encourage supervisors to progress without the bureaucratic delays that normally accompany building-use changes and to move ahead with more urgency than they have shown to this point on the shelter. The board last week in first considering the matter expressed support for a $10,000 hazardous materials study to rid any potential asbestos in the former hospital building.
Considering the back-and-forth nature of major government decisions as elected officials communicate with staff members toward a proposal’s fruition, logical approvals can often take months before action is taken.
The problem this time: The need is now and will only get worse. The homeless population will only grow.
Supervisors should recognize the impact of routine delays on the lives of countless citizens in this community. They should expedite the proposal, hold a special meeting or two if needed, and get this done as soon as possible.
Additionally, we encourage county officials when planning the shelter’s set-up to make families a priority and to make the facility particularly accommodating to children. With this opportunity for change, families should be the focus.
