The City is continuing to monitor encampments in Santa Rosa’s Downtown area following last week’s efforts to address encampments at the 101 underpasses and College Avenue and will focus next on encampments creating health and safety hazards in the Corporate Center Parkway area. Despite on-going efforts to provide individuals within these encampments with support and services, the hazards occurring within these encampments amid the COVID-19 emergency have reached a tipping point, prompting the City to activate its Homeless Encampment Assistance Program to address immediate health, environmental and safety issues.

Outreach is underway to engage individuals in the Corporate Center Parkway area into shelter and services at the City’s Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter and the Safe Social Distancing Program in a section of the parking lot at Finley Community Center. Efforts to address illegal dumping into storm drains, vehicle code violations and criminal activity has been ongoing for a number of weeks. Resolution of encampments in this area is scheduled for mid-July barring unforeseen developments.  

Additionally, a City Council study session on homeless services programming is planned for Tuesday, July 7th. The Study Session will include an overview of existing long-term programs, temporary emergency programs related to COVID-19 emergency response, and new program concepts including innovative housing solutions, funding options and regional approaches. Some ideas to be considered include restoring shelter capacity at the Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter through development of new Sprung Structures, creating a safe parking program, and developing new strategies to replace  COVID-19 programs currently in place.  TIME, AGENDA AND PARTICIPATION INFORMATION TO BE POSTED HERE