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Warming center now open for city’s homeless
warming center
The Turlock Gospel Mission has the homeless warming center at 555 Industrial Park Drive up and running although due to snafus heat may not be added until Monday

Manteca’s homeless warming center is now open in a tent in the parking lot at 555 Industrial Park Drive on the former Qualex property.

Code issues with hooking up electricity to a 48- by 60-foot modular building the City Council originally authorized for $225,000 forced Turlock Gospel Mission to go with a 40- by 80-foot tent option instead.

Even though a heating source won’t be in place until Monday, six homeless on the first night Thursday stayed in the tent to get some protection from the elements.

Assistant City Manager Lisa Blackmon noted the tent option will end up costing the city less money as it was an $180,000 proposal. Both options included staffing as well as operation programs to help the homeless.

The warming center will sleep up to 50 people and care for the needs of 80 people during the day through March 31, 2021. It  is only a stop-gap measure designed to provide the homeless with some relief against the winter cold, rain, and fog.

 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 and will be discussed later in this report.

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.

The warming center will be paid for with money from the general fund’s undesignated reserves account.

 

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com