Manteca leaders in late October devised a solution to house more homeless temporarily to get them off the street.

They figured if everything went well portable buildings would be in use  before last Christmas at 555 Industrial Park Drive where a tent for the homeless had been located.

That would mean upwards of 50 homeless wouldn’t have to fend against the winter cold or deal with what would be 14 atmospheric records.

The tent was removed due to various issues that purchasing the portable buildings would resolve.

The timeline failed to take into account the fact emergency housing projects don’t get express service — or exemption from — the environmental review process.

Emergency, apparently doesn’t mean the same thing to bureaucrats at the US Housing and Urban Development Department as it does to officials on the frontline trying to deal with homeless needs and issues.

Now, eight months later, a consultant hired to do the work HUD required has completed an environmental assessment.

That document, now in the public review phase, has determined the property in the middle of the Manteca Industrial Park where the portables to serve as dorms for the homeless:

*Doesn’t violate the federal floodplain management guidelines.

*Complies with federal clean air standards.

*Isn’t a threat to endangered species.

*Adheres to farmland protection regulations.

*Doesn’t impede historic preservation.

*Won’t pose a hazard for Stockton Airport.

*Has no contaminated soil.

*Isn’t threatened by explosive or flammable material hazards.

That is part of a checklist that HUD required to be completed prior to the project moving forward.

The need to involve the federal environmental review process — which is roughly the same as the California process, is due to the project being funded in a large part with federal Community Development Block Grant pass through funds.

Even if only a dollar of federal money was involved, it would still require the federal environmental review.

The two dormitory modular units, as noted in the environmental review, are needed “to provide safe and secure overnight services for all unsheltered individuals in the community of Manteca. The addition of modular units will provide up to 50 beds (25 beds in each unit).

“They will also provide adequate safety features such as fire sprinklers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and will allow individuals to utilize day services such as meals, showers, clothing, a resource center, transportation, and transitional housing.”

The portable project entails $500,000 in block grant funds and $40,352 in municipal tax dollars.

The Manteca Homeless Emergency Center at is the first phase of a larger project.

The second phase 2 transfer services to the soon-to-be constructed Low Barrier Navigation Center at 682 S. Main Street.

The Low Barrier Navigation Center is in preliminary design stages. Once the LBNC is ready, the modular units will be moved to the 682 S. Main Street site and will then be used as transitional housing.

In the meantime, there is a dire need to acquire modular units for overnight shelter for the unsheltered individuals in Manteca. The project will consist of installation of the described modular units and all necessary infrastructure including lighting, water, sewer, and electrical connections (including undergrounding).

  To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com