Quiet Opening for Albany Bulb Homeless Shelter

Demand didn't seem to running high tonight, Friday, when Albany's temporary homeless shelter opened next to the Albany Bulb.

The city set up the six-month shelter with 30 beds to receive people whom the city plans to evict from their illegal encampments on the Bulb.

The city announced the shelter would open at 5:30 p.m., and the posted rules say dinner is served between 6-7 p.m. A visit by Patch found no one had checked into the facility by 6:15 p.m., when it was already dark.

An on-site representative of Operation Dignity, the organization hired by the city to operate the shelter, told Patch that she cannot disclose how many people move into the shelter until after city officials have been informed. She said city officials would not be informed tonight.

The representative said anyone who wishes to stay in the shelter must check in by 8 p.m.

Patch earlier today asked Albany City Clerk Nicole Almaguer, who serves as the city's public information officer, how Patch could find out how many people move into the shelter tonight and whether Operation Dignity could provide that information. She replied by email, "Operation Dignity is not able to respond to media inquiries as their focus is on assisting people at the shelter." She said she would be happy to answer questions on Monday.

The shelter – located on Buchanan Street extension about 100 yards from the entrance to the Bulb – consists of two prefab buildings, one with 11 bunk beds for men, and the other with four bunk beds for women plus a dining area for breakfast and dinner. The women's section and the dining area are separated by a plywood partition.

Next to the shelter is a trailer containing separate showers for men and women, four portable toilets and four dog kennels made of chain-link fence, each about 4-feet by 9-feet. 

The shelter rules say its doors open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 8:30 a.m., at which time all clients must be gone. Showers may be taken between 8:30-9:30 p.m. Breakfast is served between 7-8 a.m.

"There are no in and out privileges," the rules say. "Should a client leave and not return by 8PM, the client will not be admitted in the shelter."

No one under 18 will be admitted. Alcohol, drugs, weapons and sexual activity are not allowed.

A copy of the full rules is attached to this article.

Ten Albany Bulb residents and the nonprofit Albany Housing Advocates filed suit in U.S. District Court on Nov. 13 seeking to block the eviction. The suit in part said the shelter does not provide reasonable accommodations for Bulb residents with physical and mental disabilities and thus violates the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

One remedy sought by the plaintiffs was a temporary restraining order to stop the city from evicting the Bulb dwellers.

The city responded in court papers that plaintiffs have not requested or specified the accommodations they believe they would need and therefore the court cannot rule that the city’s plan fails to provide reasonable accommodations.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer on Monday rejected the request for an injunction. The suit remains active, according to plaintiffs' attorney Osha Neumann.

The shelter is part of the city's "Transition Plan" to make the Bulb part of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park. The plan also calls for enforcement of the city's no-camping ordinance and removal of the makeshift shelters and tents used by an estimated 50-60 people living illegally on the Bulb.

Patch has asked city officials, including the police department, when enforcement of the no-camping ordinance will begin.

The city is also working with local agencies to help the Bulb residents find alternative housing and is offering limited rent subsidies – from a $35,000 fund approved by the City Council – to pay part of the rent for Bulb residents who have income with which to pay part of the rent themselves.

For more information on the city's plan for the Albany Bulb and protests by opponents of the eviction, see our list of recent Patch articles and reader posts about the issue:

• News Articles & Community Posts about Albany Bulb

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