Construction expected to begin on Merced County homeless navigation center
Construction on Merced County’s “Navigation Center,” which will help address homelessness in the area, is scheduled to begin soon.
The 15,000 square-foot facility will serve as a low-barrier emergency shelter option for individuals currently residing in public spaces, and other places not suitable for human habitation, according to a Merced County press release.
The facility, which is scheduled to open later this year at 1411 B Street will include approximately 75 beds, kitchen and dining facilities, laundry, classroom, clinic, and office space for support service providers.
“Homelessness is a moral issue that impacts the health, safety, and quality of life in our community,” said Assemblymember Adam Gray. “Establishing a low barrier shelter will allow us to house vulnerable individuals, clean up our streets, and reduce the burden on our first responders.
“Government is often guilty of talking too much and failing to solve problems. Today we are taking action.”
The center will be constructed from modified shipping containers, which will save money and cut down on construction time.
The containers are currently being delivered and will be put in place during the week of Aug. 31, according to a press release from Merced County.
The Merced Rescue Mission will manage the new facility, which will be open 24 hours per day, every day. The goal of the shelter is to help transition individuals out of homelessness. Clients will be assigned a case manager.
The goal is to link center clients to permanent supportive and affordable housing units as quickly as possible, while simultaneously working on barriers to sustainability such as lack of income and behavioral health challenges.
“The Alliance recognizes that individuals currently experiencing homelessness can have complex health needs that are often exacerbated by being without a stable home,” said Stephanie Sonnenshine, CEO of the Central California Alliance for Health.
“We are therefore pleased to support the new Merced Navigation Center as this facility will not only link its clients to secure housing, income, and job training resources, but will also ensure that all participants will be connected to Medi-Cal and a primary care physician.”
Other elements of Merced County’s regional plan to address homelessness include outreach and engagement, transitional housing, long-term supportive housing, and the system supports needed to coordinate these activities.
Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with the Merced Rescue Mission providing other communities outside of the City of Merced with access to similar services on an appropriate scale by renting 10 homes distributed across Merced County that will be similarly used as low-barrier Navigation Centers.
This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 8:32 AM.
