Monterey County debates community homeless solutions

SALINAS, Calif. (KION)

A possible new organization for homeless solutions in Monterey County is the topic of discussion, Tuesday, between Salinas City Council and Monterey County Board members.

For the first time in Salinas, there will be a permanent building for the homeless with more than 100 beds and wrap around services.

During a meeting, the county decided a Bay Area advocacy group, Bay Area Community Services (BACS) will step in to run the Share Navigation Center in Salinas off Laurel, as opposed to Community Homeless Solutions (CHS) in Monterey County.

Salinas City Council Members voted 5-2 in favor of BACS and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1.

“We’re an organization that saw this as an opportunity to expand our mission and expand what we do well," says BACS Executive Director, Jaime Almanza.

The decision, however, did not come without hesitation from local community members and community leaders.

Members of BACS say their objective is to successfully house more people in Monterey County, but local community members sparked a debate, saying they feel an organization from outside the county may not the the best fit.

Data provided by the BACS during Tuesday's meeting showed they were able to successfully lead over 800 clients to permanent housing in 2019, and more than 400 clients in 2020.

One attorney in Salinas stepped up during the public comment section and said those numbers may not be accurate.

“One of the permanent housing units that they were accredited with was a garage with no electricity, rat infestation, no access to a bathroom and nails in the wall where the person was later evicted," said the speaker.

Some others say they fear the BACS stepping in would mean the loss of jobs for those currently working for the CHS.

“I am concerned that the people from BACS won’t allow churches and community groups to serve at the shelter, I have been serving at the shelter with my family and my church for six years and if i can’t serve at the shelter anymore, I will be sad," one young volunteer commented.

The BACS says that is not the case.

“We would only hire from the local community, it would be atrocious, it would not make good sense to hire or bring in people from outside the community, it would not be a system that would have success," says Almanza.

The Monterey County Board says more still needs to be discussed, such as funding and other resources to address the need for homeless assistance.