Manteca’s homeless warming center this winter will cost taxpayers significantly more than last year.
The City Council when they meet today at 5 o’clock will decide between two options for a homeless warming center. One is a 40-foot by 80-foot tent option for $180,000. The other is a 48-foot by 60-foot modular options for $225,000.
Last winter the city in partnership with Inner City Action opened a warming center with the city setting aside $25,000 to run generators to heat the tent. The faith-based non-profit handled the other costs through donations. They did get some additional help from the city when donations came up short to cover fuel to run the generators.
The City Council meeting can be viewed livestreaming via the city’s website or by going to Comcast Cable TV Channel 97.
The warming center this year will be run by the Turlock Gospel Mission if the council approves the contract tonight. The Turlock Gospel Mission founded in 2007. It was the only agency to respond to the City of Manteca’s request for proposals to operate a warming center from Dec. 1 through March 31, 2021.
The warming center will be located where it was last winter in the parking lot of the former Qualex building at 555 Industrial Park Drive.
The center will operate seven days a week and 24 hours a day. Both the tent and modular options will be able to sleep a maximum of 50 overnight. The day center capacity is 80 for both options.
The shelter will operate much like last year’s warming center with services provided during the day and sleeping accommodations in the evening. The structure for the Inclement Warming Center will be provided by Turlock Gospel Mission.
Turlock Gospel Mission will offer Behavioral Health, Whole Person Care, and a Community Medical Center.
The overall price tag includes all necessary furniture and sleeping cots, case management, showering facilities, restrooms, meals, clothing distribution, intake and service tracking, pet food and veterinarian referral, mail service, ID vouchers, shelter referrals, essential guest transportation, weekly support groups, central location for other service providers to meet guests, and pet kennels.
Both structure options include electricity, heating, cooling, and furnishings.
Cots for sleeping in both options will be arranged with four-foot separation with guests sleeping opposite each other, head to foot, to provide the recommended six-foot separation.
The advantages of the tent option include it being the less expensive option and being the quickest to get in place meaning it can be open by Dec. 1.
Disadvantages noted in the staff report included the need for additional life safety features such as emergency lighting, emergency exit signage, and smoke and CO detectors; does not allow for separation, if needed, for homeless families; and is not the preferred option of either the Fire Department or Building Division.
The advantages of the modular option include being equipped with life safety features such as lighted exit signage, smoke and CO detectors, crash bar equipped doors; included HVAC systems, has electrical systems, more private space for homeless families and/or meeting space; and is the preferred option of both the Fire Department and Building Division.
The disadvantages include being the more expensive option and taking longer to get in place. The modular option would likely open Dec. 10 at the latest.
Electricity will be provided by a generator. However, if the council opts for the modular option there is a potential for a temporary PG&E hookup. Water will be supplied by the city at no cost.
Turlock Gospel Mission will provide portable bathrooms with hand washing stations and shower facilities. They will follow their advanced cleaning protocols, currently in place at their Turlock shelter, including sanitizing these areas once per hour.
Staff is recommending the warming center be paid for with money from the general fund’s undesignated reserves account.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
