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Oct 08, 2023

MODULAR DORMS FOR 50 HOMELESS BY YEAR’S END

There should be 50 homeless shelter beds in Manteca by year’s end. That is, of course, if there isn’t another governmental regulatory hiccup or supply chain snafu. Putting in portable modulars at 555

There should be 50 homeless shelter beds in Manteca by year’s end.

That is, of course, if there isn’t another governmental regulatory hiccup or supply chain snafu.

Putting in portable modulars at 555 Industrial Park Drive that is ground zero for efforts to get Manteca’s homeless off the streets is just one facet of the city’s ongoing multiple-pronged effort.

*Manteca is moving forward with a plan to speed up the building of the homeless navigation center off of Carnegie Court on the back portion of 8 acres they own at 682 South Main Street.

*A multi-department municipal management team is touring facilities in Bakersfield today as part of its efforts to determine how best to expand services needed to get homeless back on the path to being able to house themselves.

*Homeless outreach services — ranging from mental health and such to showers, bathrooms, and food — are being provided on an ongoing basis at the redevelopment successor agency’s property at 555 Industrial Park Drive.

*Homeless are being provided a secure, fenced-in area to overnight in tents or their vehicles at 555 Industrial Park Drive as well.

City Manager Toni Lundgren confirmed Thursday that Manteca will take delivery of modular buildings for placement at the homeless services site in November. That includes two dorms — one for women and another for men — as well as a restroom/shower unit and a kitchen unit.

Altogether, there will be 50 beds for the homeless.

The modular buildings could be relocated in several years to augment the homeless navigation center the city is now in the planning stages of building.

The city, based on a January 2022 point-in-time count, has 129 homeless

Manteca achieved a 41 percent reduction from the 218 count in 2019.

That was done through a dedicated police officer dealing with homeless issues and outreach as well as funding an emergency services center for the homeless.

Manteca had 88 homeless in 2017. That number increased by 148 percent to 218 in 2019. Back in 2011, the first time a count was taken, Manteca had 23 homeless.

Lundgren said the city is targeting having the dorms open for occupancy by year’s end.

The city is using $500,000 in federal Community Block Grant pass through money designated to serving the needs of the poor in communities to purchase four portable modular units.

In the past, the federal money was used for things such as putting in place missing sidewalks and making park improvements in less wealthy Manteca neighborhoods.

The City Council ordered the modular units in November of 2022. The plan was to have them in place before the start of this year.

That got derailed when the federal government required an environmental review to make sure the project didn’t disturb archeology sites, create issues for flight paths connected with Stockton Airport, didn’t significant increase air quality, and making sure the soil wasn’t contaminated among other issues.

Then the modular manufacturer was hit with chain supply issues.

The city has since cleared the federal environmental review process that was required because federal funds are being used to purchase the dorms and prep the site for their occupancy.

In order to eliminate potential delays, the city is taking a “progressive phasing” approach to the $16 million navigation center.

Lundgren said it will allow the infrastructure work such as water, sewer, and power lines to start before the final design of the facility is completed and put out to bid.

The biggest advantage is being able to make sure the navigation enter will have electricity when it is completed instead of having to sit used for months.

That’s because PG&E in recent years due to construction backlogs has taken as much as six months to a year to put new service connections in place.

By getting a jump start to get plans in the PG&E construction queue ahead of getting the actual building contract being awarded, the city should be able to get a navigation center up and running sooner.

Lundgren indicated the City Council in September will take action to start the ball rolling in earnest toward groundbreaking.

The state is funding the center as the result of Mayor Gary Singh’s efforts working with state Senator Susan Tamalantes Eggman.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email [email protected]