Berkeley emergency homeless shelter closes for the season, relocates some residents
The BESS ran from November to April this year, and remained open 24 hours a day with reduced capacity.
The BESS ran from November to April this year, and remained open 24 hours a day with reduced capacity.
The city of Berkeley is set to move dozens of unhoused people into 18 RVs and a rehabbed house as part of a new respite program approved by officials Tuesday night in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Homeless people in high-risk COVID19 categories are being offered hotel rooms, one of several measures being taken by the city to protect those without homes.
Places that once served hot meals — and offered seconds — will now hand out boxed meals. Daytime drop-in services are being cut back because of COVID-19. It will also be harder to take a shower and do laundry.
Starting this fall, some unhoused people in Berkeley could spend every day and night in one downtown Berkeley basement without missing a meal, a shower or a full night’s sleep.
One project will serve seniors. The other will serve the homeless, veterans, and low-income residents.
Berkeley officials voted unanimously Tuesday night to prioritize a plan to build what was described as the city’s largest ever supportive housing development for the homeless.
For the first time ever, the city has created a team of outreach workers focused on getting chronically homeless, mentally ill individuals off the streets and into housing.
Over the last two years, the city of Berkeley has been moving from an emergency services approach to homelessness to one that’s focused on getting people into long-term housing.
© Cityside. All Rights Reserved.