Fresno to add hundreds of shelter beds to curb coronavirus spread among homeless
Fresno County is making available over 300 new shelter beds for homeless residents as early as Tuesday evening in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We had our first call on Sunday. And here we are on Tuesday with people going into housing that have been identified as high-risk,” said Laura Moreno, program manager at the Department of Social Services.
Outreach coordinators who interviewed hundreds of individuals Monday reported the homeless population was not showing symptoms of COVID-19, according to Principal Administrative Analyst Sonia De La Rosa.
So far, California has confirmed 11 deaths from coronavirus, with 472 confirmed cases. Two of those cases are in Fresno County. The county and city have declared a state of emergency.
“Our homeless population, how do they shelter if they’re ill? We’ve got to have a plan for that,” Moreno said. “It’s probably not going to originate in our homeless population because they’re not going places. It’s more likely to come in from the outside.”
The three shelters, owned by RH Community Builders, will cost about $354,000 to operate per month. Moreno said the county would spend state homeless dollars if necessary, but is hoping to access the $1 billion emergency COVID-19 fund approved by the legislature Monday.
The county has not put an end date to the shelters, which will be open 24/7.
The old Hacienda hotel, at 2250 West Clinton Ave., will house approximately 120 people, the former CAP campus at 2445 West Whitesbridge Ave. will house about 132 people, and another building at 1040 North Pleasant Ave. will house about 60 people, according to De La Rosa.
The buildings are ideal for this situation, she said, because they are comprised of dozens of rooms, as opposed to a single open space. If any residents are ordered to quarantine, they will have the option. Other rooms can fit up to 16 people.
Moreno said the county is reaching out to the elderly and immuno-compromised first, but would not turn anyone away. If demand exceeds existing shelter options, they have other vacant facilities that will fit more beds.
Hand washing stations, encampment clearings
The county is also hoping to purchase hand-washing stations, port-a-potties and hygiene kits for encampment areas and crowded spaces outside downtown shelters. The number will depend on what is available, given spiking demand across the state.
The Marjaree Mason Center and the Evangel Home reported shortages of cleaning supplies and toilet paper. Moreno said the county would help with supplies, but face the same shortages as Fresno households.
“We’re having the same struggles as everybody else,” Moreno said. “We may have had more stock than many homes but we have a lot more people to provide for.”
Some shelters are also concerned about decreased capacity due to social-distancing guidelines. De La Rosa said that hadn’t been a problem yet. In fact, she said some shelters are looking to expand capacity.
In addition, homeless residents staying at triage centers facing the end of their 90-day stay will be allowed to remain.
The county has suspended all encampment clearings. The city has suspended Homeless Task Force enforcement in the areas of Santa Clara and G Street, but enforcement will continue in the rest of Fresno, according to H Spees, director of strategic initiatives.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 5:32 PM.