Salinas City Council member proposes plans to tackle homelessness

Finding homes for the homeless–it’s a topic that’s been explored for decades. Salinas City Council member Tony Villegas sent the city manager two proposals he feels could help get people off the streets and into a place to stay.

One plan suggests moving homeless families to other states and another proposes a foster care program for the homeless. The two ideas are dividing opinions locally.

“What we’d like to see is people off the streets. Well how to we get there? We need to change our policies,” Villegas said.

People KION spoke with Monday said the foster care plan where people would open their homes for the homeless is a good idea.

“I know a lot of people that don’t have homes right now and it’s really hard for them to do stuff. You opening up that place would be really good,” said Salinas resident Jim.

Salinas local Dan Beffa, who right now is living in transitional housing, told KION he thinks it’s a good idea.

“I think it is a good idea. I should have done that when i was younger. I chose some other options that I learned were a bad option at a time,” Beffa said.

Under Villegas’ plan, people would get paid to open their homes. The city would likely have to get foster care age requirements removed. Villegas said the plan targets people who need assistance for drug dependency and mental health issues.

Victory Mission, a ministry serving the homeless in the Chinatown neighborhood, tried a similar initiative, but Executive Director Ken Cusson said they had difficulties.

“Some men are just not capable of being out there in total freedom again because they just fall back on what they were doing before,” Cusson said. “That could be a very detrimental affect to a family or a couple that are opening their home up to somebody like that.”

Cusson said it has potential, but stressed the need for screening, followups and addiction and counseling services.

Another proposal from Villegas would send Salinas homeless people out of state.

The city of Salinas would buy foreclosed or tax-lien homes and help homeless families move there.

Under the plan, the families would pay back a low-cost mortgage with no interest over several years to the city so it can recoup costs.

“Giving young people and young families that are living out of their car, if they could have a chance to live the American dream and purchase a house at a very low cost to what they are out here,” Villegas said.

But critics argue that the city shouldn’t send the homeless somewhere else and it doesn’t solve the problem.

Villegas said these proposals are still in the initial stages but city staff are considering if they’re possible to do.