Public Meeting on Albany Bulb Homeless Thursday

What will happen to the "homeless" campers at the Albany Bulb?

The effort to fulfill the City Council mandate to have the Bulb residents relocated by October will be featured at the community "kick-off meeting" Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Albany Community Center at 1249 Marin Avenue.

The meeting will be hosted by the agency hired by the city to assist the Bulb's estimated 55 campers in finding alternative places to live and services – the Berkeley Food and Housing Project. The group calls its effort "Project HOPE – Housing Opportunities Expanded."

"We will tell the Albany community about our intended work plan, our progress in the short period of time since our contract started, and what support we need from the community to assist in this effort to house those looking for alternative housing," said Terrie Light, executive director of the Berkeley Food and Housing Project.

The Albany City Council took action May 6 on the issue of the homeless campers at the Bulb, instructing the Police Department to begin enforcing the no camping ordinance as of October.

On June 17, the City Council selected the Berkeley Food and Housing Project as the most qualified of agencies that submitted proposals and authorized a $30,000 contract for three months of outreach and engagement services.

Since then, the Berkeley Food and Housing Project has teamed up with members of Solano Community Church to gather information on the homeless campers at the Albany Bulb.

Every Tuesday and Thursday since July 2, the team has been sending a mobile housing van to the Bulb to evaluate each camper's situation and needs – whether they have Social Security, identification, income, etc.

"A majority of the 30 campers we have assessed are interested in housing," said Andrew Franklin from Solano Community Church. "There are many people in the pipeline. We just need more time."

The Albany City Council wants to turn over the Bulb to the East Bay Regional Park District to run as part of the McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. The City Council hired the Berkeley Food and Housing Project in hopes to relocate the campers at the Bulb by the deadline in October.