South County’s first homeless bridge shelter will be located in Chula Vista by May, with the capacity to house up to 138 people.
In November, Chula Vista City Council hired Pallet Shelter to construct over 60 prefab shelter units on 27th street, near Faivre Street and Broadway. The shelter’s opening would come after the 2022 point-in-time count, San Diego County’s annual homeless census slated for Feb.24.
This would be the first count since January 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The site will offer showers, bathroom, and laundry services with a total bed capacity of 138, but during its first year of operation, the city will begin with an occupancy of 75.
A total of $7.4 million in state and federal funding was allocated for the shelter, according to city senior management analyst, Angelica Davis. An allocation of $2.77 million is aimed at onsite and offsite costs, and $4 million will be spent on operational costs over the next three years.
In October, Chula Vista issued requests for proposals (RFP) for an agency to operate the shelter. Three proposals were received, though they have not been named.
According to Davis, applicants will undergo an evaluation process involving interviews with city staff, who will make recommendations in March.
The chosen applicant would be responsible for maintaining the site, providing 24-hour security, crisis response, and transition services to help individuals find permanent housing.
