Soledad moves forward with temporary encampment on future shelter site
SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The city of Soledad is moving forward with a provisional tent camp for the homeless as they are working to build a modular interim shelter near the site.
On Wednesday, the City Council unanimously decided to increase funding for the total project by $200,000 to account for the temporary camp.
The city says encampment clean-up at the site at 990 Los Coches Road has begun with some residents now in the Motel Voucher Program.
"The idea is to have a very professional encampment where we can and we have talked to the police department to see also what's more manageable as part of a responsibility. They do agree that identifying a sign that can be fenced, that can be monitored is easier for them and it's also safer for everyone," Soledad housing analyst Beatriz Trujillo said.
According to the city, while grant funding was awarded last year, delays in receiving the money led to additional challenges.
“We were not able to really move forward without the money until late last year. So since then, new conditions have arrived. New concerns have arrived at the encampment, one of them, as every winter, I think we run the risk of the river bed getting flooded, and you have seen the water has been very extreme," Trujillo said.
Trujillo adds that they expect the provisional encampment to start housing people by mid-March -- while the interim modular site is expected to be completed in mid-July.
Original Article
Soledad seeks to build a temporary homeless camp on future shelter site
The Soledad City Council is seeking to set up a provisional homeless camp while securing the funding for a new homeless shelter facility.
A resolution would establish a provisional gated campsite at 990 Los Coches Drive, a site designated for the interim shelter facility.
Soledad planned to establish the interim shelter with the Encampment Resolution fund with the County of Monterey in January 2024 with $2.49 million to be allocated for the project.
After much delay, the funds were received in fall 2024 with construction not yet underway.
The plan is to set up the gated encampment by relocating those living on the Salinas River/Soledad riverbed to the encampment where the city will provide tents for all residents.
Once created and built, the interim shelter facility can accommodate up to 16 residents as they begin the pathway to find permanent housing.
This comes with another resolution seen by the council looking to extend Soledad's shelter crisis declaration.
