The first homeless shelter in the South Bay is on track to open by Spring 2022 in Chula Vista.
The Chula Vista city council approved a product and service agreement on Nov.9 with Pallet SPC for Emergency Shelter Units on 205 27th Street. The company works to end unsheltered homelessness through the construction of pallet shelters in order to bridge a gap from being on the street to traditional housing.
A final site plan was presented to the council which depicted final improvements. Final approval is slated for January, when the city is scheduled to award a contract with the shelter operator. Rehousing efforts will begin upon entry to the program with the goal to successfully transition individuals into permanent supportive housing within 6 to 12 months.
Through the approved purchase agreement, the city will acquire two multipurpose rooms of approximately 400 square feet with plans to utilize one as for activities such as meal distribution and meetings. The city will also purchase 63 family units of 100 square feet that can fit four beds. The plan also includes spaces of 64 square feet fitting up to two beds.
According to Chula Vista Senior Management Analyst Angelica Davis, staff will return to the housing advisory commission to consult to report on homeless efforts and activities city wide. During this time, the shelter’s development will continue.
Features such as basic utilities, fire service lines, sewers, electricity, paving, installing drainage, outdoor storage areas, trash enclosures, standard parking spaces, three of which are ADA compliant are included among other features.The site will also see lighting, shielded perimeter fencing and an automatic gate for security.
Each unit is turn key and pre-fabricated at Pallet’s factory for shipment. According to Davis, each unit takes less than an hour to assemble and are outfitted with beds, electricity, and temperature control. They are equipped with safety elements such as lock bolt doors, a smoke detector and carbon monoxide monitoring.
Bathrooms are not incorporated within each unit. The site will offer community bathrooms along with laundry and shower facilities.
Last May, the Lucky Duck Foundation lent the Sprung Bridge Shelter valued at $800,000 to Chula Vista free of charge and had the capacity to hold 250 people. It was aimed to be established at this same location before plans were cancelled
“Initially we planned to use the Sprung Bridge Structure. After we evaluated our goals and our options, it was determined it was in the city’s best interest to move forward with a non-congregate setting,”Davis said.
The city was waiting on land approval from the California Coastal Conservancy before the decision was made to use palette shelters. A decision to officially announce the city's Sept.28 meeting by Davis alongside Chula Vista Director of Development services Tiffany Allen.
Council member Andrea Cardenas said this issue “is something personal”. At the meeting, she opened up about housing insecurity her family faced during her youth. “I know first hand how a little thing can disrupt our whole livelihood,” she said.
“It’s very exciting to see that our city staff and all of the folks working with us have prioritized the humanity of this issue and the dignity people deserve in trying to stabilize their lives,” Cardenas said.
