Manteca is working to put in place various portable modular units to provide emergency shelter for the homeless before Christmas.

It was one of two major initiatives the City Council took Tuesday to address the city’s homeless problem.

The other was formally agreeing to accept $16 million from the state to build a homeless resource navigation center. The funding was made possible through the efforts of State Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman working with Councilman Gary Singh.

The city is is using $500,000 in federal Community Block Grant pass through money designated to serving the needs of the poor in communities to purchase four portable modular units to place in the parking lot at 555 Industrial Park Drive.

They include two dorms — one for women and another for men — as well as a restroom/shower unit and a kitchen unit.

The city had been using a large tent since it first opened the emergency shelter for homes in the same parking lot in December of 2019 until it was taken down in August.

The city sold that tent to Inner City Action that opted out of the homeless contract in August

His Way Recovery, the new contactor that offers homeless services daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., wasn’t in a position to house homeless overnight when they took over due to not being able to secure the proper insurance at the time. That insurance coverage is now lined up.

The city is also rehabbing two portable classroom-style structures the Christian Worship Center donated for use at the emergency homeless center.

They will be used as day-rooms for services and activities such as watching TV.

Although it wasn’t discussed Tuesday, city staff has indicated the portables could easily be relocated to the site where the homeless navigation  center is being built roughly two blocks away off of Carnegie Court.

The earliest the permanent navigation center can be in place is likely early 2023.

Meanwhile, the city believes they will have more success at getting homeless off the streets if they have facilities more conducive to sleeping and provide separate dorms for men and women.

The restrooms/showers and kitchen units  could be hooked to existing utilities to reduce energy costs as well as make efforts to serve the homeless more efficient.

The dorms are also expected to reduce the high cost of heating a large tent in the winter.

The city has already used $2 million obtained from the county to buy 8 acres that fronts South Main Street.

The city plans to build affordable housing and/or a new police station along Main Street.

The homeless navigation center will be accessible only from  Carnegie Court.

Since August, His Way Recovery has been able to get 12 homeless into substance abuse programs.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com