With a west-side homeless encampment along the riverbed, government officials and homeless advocates have started preparing for the possibility of an emergency removal of the resident if flooding occurs and expanded bed space at the homeless shelter.
Initially, officials have talked about adding 40 beds to the existing 28 offered at the Southside Road facility open from late November into the spring.
Monday morning’s heavy rains are a reminder of what might come to be in San Benito County and throughout much of California with an historically severe El Nino winter predicted. Although the precipitation is a welcome sign due to the state’s long-running drought, major storms could cause severe flooding and a host of health and safety concerns.
One of those is the possible impact to the homeless encampment along the riverbed near Fourth Street in Hollister.
James Rydingsword, executive director of health and human services for the county, confirmed that talks are under way to expand the number of beds offered at the seasonal homeless shelter. San Benito County Homeless Coalition Chairwoman Pat Loe also acknowledged the ongoing effort to increase the number of temporary shelter beds.
“We’re going to expand the number of beds that might be available, particularly if we get the kind of weather that people are predicting,” Rydingsword told the Free Lance.
He said he understood about 30 to 40 people were living in the somewhat secluded encampment that became more noticeable to passing traffic last spring.
There appears to be available space in the seasonal shelter facilities for the added beds plus some.
“If we need more than that, I’m sure we could probably add more beds out there,” Rydingsword said.
Loe said she is encouraged how the county is serious about the problem. She said the coalition and county are in “negotiations” about bed capacity. The coalition is examining how to make it pencil out.
“Since we rely on donations, we can’t be in the red,” Loe said.
Plans are also in the works to abruptly evacuate the homeless residents from the encampment if flooding occurs, said Kevin O’Neill, emergency services manager for San Benito County.
Look back for more.
