By Rachel Dovey.
Berkeley’s new transitional housing proposal follows in the steps of Seattle’s tent cities — a set of projects that have been controversial both in their local management, and overall philosophy.
From the East Bay Express:
City Council unanimously voted to fund 100 new beds at city-operated temporary and transitional-housing shelter, to the tune of approximately $2.5 million a year. …
Specifically, the funding would combine a proposed STAIR Center, which will provide 20 beds and focus on providing temporary shelter for homeless individuals, and a Bridge Living Community, which will feature 80 beds and connect individuals to permanent housing.
The shelters will be constructed to resembled a tent village, with bungalow-like tent-cabins, port-a-potties, mobile showers and security fencing. Each cabin will reportedly house eight people. According to the Express, officials hope to put a measure on the 2018 ballot to help pay for the transitional units.
The paper spoke with several members of the homeless community who panned the idea. Clark Sullivan, with First They Came For The Homeless (FTCFTH) told the Express that any efforts to address homelessness not focused on building permanent housing are a “big waste of money.” Another FTCFTH member said that housing eight people per tent was “like a concentration camp.”
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