Plan for mobile shelter near Auburn homeless encampment goes before Placer supervisors
Placer County supervisors will vote Tuesday on a $1.1 million funding plan for a mobile homeless shelter for those living in an encampment near the county’s Auburn government center.
The shelter proposal was borne out of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed by several people living in the encampment. The plaintiffs alleged they had lost property when the county cleaned the area a year ago.
The shelter would consist of 50 tents with cots and “basic bedding,” the county said.
“The goal of the low-barrier shelter is to provide unhoused individuals with temporary shelter with the hope of securing permanent housing in the future,” the county said in a news release
The shelter could also include showers, toilets and trash service, as well as access to drinking water. It would be connected to another county building that could serve as a cooling and warming center during extreme weather.
The homeless encampment on the county’s Auburn government center has been a sore point for some time. Last year, the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance in an attempt to limit camping at the site. The ordinance was hotly debated for months, prompting the county to adopt a less stringent plan.
The ordinance prohibits camping on county property or in fire-prone areas where signage is posted, with exceptions made for those camping due to inclement weather or when shelters are full. The original draft of the ordinance would have limited camping between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., but after receiving feedback from the community, that stipulation was removed.
According to a report prepared by county staff, members of the public voiced concern that the “daily breakdown and set up of camps would create a hardship, particularly for elderly or disabled individuals.” Residents also shared concerns that a daytime camping ban would cause homeless individuals to congregate, or just move their encampment elsewhere.
The large encampment on F Street in Auburn, the future site of the county’s new health and human services building, has persisted. Once about 100 people across 67 campsites, the encampment has shrunk to about 50 people, a county spokesperson said.
The Board of Supervisors will decide Tuesday whether to approve a $1.1 million contract with a nonprofit organization, First Step Communities, to manage the shelter for six months.
“The contract would require 24/7 on-site shelter supervision and basic case management services,” the county said.
“This is a solution that I hope our residents get behind as it allows us to assist our chronically homeless population while ensuring the health and safety of our communities,” said Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, who represents the North Tahoe area. “There are no easy answers to this complex social issue, but I think we have found the best way forward for now and we will course correct if need be.”