Santa Rosa to Provide Social Distancing Space for Homeless

Share with Friends

With scores of homeless individuals in Santa Rosa clustering under downtown overpasses and in scattered encampments, the City of Santa Rosa has unveiled a plan to provide the unsheltered a new, more COVID-friendly space during the coronavirus emergency.

Beginning next week, work will begin on converting an empty parking lot at the Finley Community Center on West College Avenue into space for 70 city-supplied tents. Each tent will accommodate an individual or couple. The goal is to provider a safer social distancing spot that also offers on-site services, restrooms, and access to meal delivery.

The estimated cost of $134 thousand per month will come from city funds, with Santa Rosa expected to seek reimbursement through FEMA.

The city says the tents will be spaced 12 feet apart, there will be overnight security, and site operation and management will be provided by Catholic Charities. Use of the space is not mandatory, and outreach will be underway among the unsheltered community to convince people to move to the location.

Santa Rosa plans to make the space available beginning May 18th, continuing for as long as shelter-in-place orders are in place across Sonoma County.

Unsheltered individuals are considered among the most vulnerable to coronavirus infection, and dozens of people over 65 and with pre-existing conditions have been moved in recent weeks into the Sandman Motel in Santa Rosa, trailers parked near the fairgrounds, and rooms provided at the alternate care site at Sonoma State University’s student housing complex.