We understand why South County Housing asked City Council to
remove the two-year limit for residents at the transitional housing
center it is developing at the old Serra Apartments site on North
Monterey Road.
We understand why South County Housing asked City Council to remove the two-year limit for residents at the transitional housing center it is developing at the old Serra Apartments site on North Monterey Road.
We understand why City Council reluctantly – but unanimously – agreed to the request. But we wish they’d been just a little more reluctant.
That’s because council members made promises to the center’s neighbors that this facility would be a transitional shelter, moving people from homelessness to permanent housing within two years.
And, although everyone says that’s still the goal, as things stand now, there’s no way to know if that’s what will be happening at the facility.
We understand that the two-year limit was lifted so that the project will qualify for federal Housing and Urban Development Section 8 subsidies – thus avoiding a $2 million budget gap. But we’d like to see the city require South County Housing’s presence twice a year in Council chambers to present a report on how long residents are staying at the facility.
Although the report would be informational, it would be a good way for city leaders to regularly check on operations at the transitional housing center. It’s important to know: Are the majority of residents moving out within two years? Are they successfully finding permanent housing, jobs and day care?
The semi-annual checkup would also create a public forum where concerned neighbors – and there were many who opposed the proposal when it was first made last year – could review the same data and express any concerns or compliments to shelter staff and city leaders.
A transitional housing center is a laudable project, but definitely something new for this community. Now that the city’s been asked to alter its carefully crafted guidelines for the shelter, it’s reasonable to ask for something in return. A twice-a-year report is a prudent step as Gilroy works to create a transitional housing shelter that will help the homeless and fit in with the community.
