City Council Makes it Easier to Open Homeless Shelters

Schools, churches and others will soon be guaranteed the right to offer emergency shelter.

The City Council passed Tuesday the first reading of a new law that allows what the state calls “supportive housing facilities” in areas that are zoned for public and institutional uses.

A law signed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007 requires cities to remove the stumbling blocks from organizations which may want to offer transitional housing for the homeless, said Laura Stokes, city housing/redevelopment coordinator.

The city also has to identify where new projects could go in “without discretionary review,” according to the law.

Twenty-five parcels peppered throughout the city are zoned for public or institutional uses, Stokes said. Only three, including the lot where the , are vacant.

The city is allowed to demand shelter operators heed to various standards. The ordinance the council initially approved Tuesday requires an onsite manager at all times the center is open. It requires a parking spot for every three beds, a staff member for every 20 residents and written code of conduct.

The proposed ordinance as presented to council would have allowed one bed for every 100 square feet of building space, but council members thought that was too many.  

“So if you have a 2,000 square foot home, you could have 20 people in it,” said Councilman Sam Allevato. “That doesn’t quite make sense.”

Councilman Derek Reeve proposed one resident per every 500 square feet. Stokes said most cities put the limit at 100 or 150 feet. Ultimately, the council decided for one resident ever 250 square feet.

“Typically these are dorm-looking facilities,” said City Attorney Omar Sandoval. “Under the law, the longest anyone can stay is 6 months. It’s really transitional, to get them on their feet.”