Update on Actions to Address Encampments Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Shelter intakes are currently on hold at the City-owned Samuel Jones Hall (SJH) Homeless Shelter due to some shelter residents recently testing positive for COVID-19. As a result, efforts to resolve encampments throughout Santa Rosa are temporarily paused. This includes the areas of Industrial Ave, Prince Memorial Greenway, Jennings Park, and all encampments in the City. Outreach, removal of debris from the public right of way, and enforcement of vehicle code violations will continue in an effort to reduce the impacts of encampments to surrounding businesses and neighborhoods, though a timeline for closure of encampments cannot be determined while shelter beds remain unavailable. Since mid-December, 14 individuals have tested positive for coronavirus at SJH.