Politics & Government

Albany Homeless Shelter Expected in 'Next Few Weeks,' City Says

The temporary homeless shelter for Albany Bulb dwellers is expected to be ready "within the next few weeks," and the city is not likely to conduct strict enforcement of the no-camping law at the Bulb until then, said City Clerk Nicole Almaguer.

The six-month shelter for those being ordered to leave Albany Bulb is expected to be ready "within the next few weeks," Albany City Clerk Nicole Almaguer said today, Thursday.

Even though the City Council has asked the Police Department to begin enforcing the city's no-camping ordinance beginning this month against the longstanding encampments on the Bulb, the city is not likely to strictly enforce the law until the shelter is ready, said Almaguer, who serves as the city's public information officer.

"The transitional shelter is intended to ensure that persons moving off the Albany Bulb have an alternative sheltered location," she said in an email response to a Patch query. "With this purpose in mind, it is unlikely that the ban on temporary shelters/property storage will be strictly enforced before alternatives are in place."

Police began issuing warnings about violating the no-camping law on Oct. 9, and city staff on Tuesday of this week posted notices on at least two makeshift shelters warning that the city will begin a clean-up of Albany Bulb encampments "at any time" following 72 hours after the date of the notices, which was Oct. 22.

Almaguer said the 72-hour notices were "posted on abandoned campsites." Bulb resident Amber Whitson said the two sites where the notices were posted – a tree house and what she called "the Teepee" – are still occupied and that their inhabitants are temporarily away. She the tree-house dweller went on a bus trip with friends to New Orleans and that she believes the man who built the Teepee went to Fresno "because one of his daughters is going to have a baby."

The city is in the midst of implementing City Council decisions made over the past several months to remove the estimated 50-60 or so people living illegally in shelters and tents on the Bulb and to proceed with the city's longterm goal of turning the bayfill property over to McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.

On Monday night this week, the Council approved a $570,000 plan to place a 30-bed temporary housing shelter next to the Bulb and hire a firm to clean up campsite remains, trash and waste. 

A number of Bulb residents and supporters have protested against the city plan and called for more time and for direct housing assistance instead of a temporary shelter.

Almaguer said the city is "employing a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary approach to conditions at the Waterfront Park." (The Bulb is part of Waterfront Park.) The city described the plan approved by the council in a press release Wednesday.

"The personal property storage and temporary shelters are two pieces of the City’s Waterfront Park Transition Plan," Almaguer said. "Some cleanup has already taken place (abandoned encampments), some is imminent and some will take more time as we move forward."

"Temporary shelter facilities, showers, and associated materials are on order and are anticipated to be in place within the next few weeks," she said.  

Background on the Albany Bulb issues

More information can be found in the many recent news articles and community blog and board posts about the Albany Bulb. Click here for a list of titles and links.


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