Council moves emergency shelter forward

The Sonoma City Council is moving ahead toward construction of a three-unit emergency overnight shelter next to the presently vacant police station and council chambers at 177 First St. West. At its March 7 meeting, council authorized the transfer to that project of $220,000 in unexpended redevelopment funds earmarked for “Low/Moderate Housing.”
This shelter project has been in the works since 2003 and began in earnest last year, when the council applied to the state of California for a $280,000 deferred loan to construct the facility. The state approved that loan last October. Once the shelter has been operating for at least 10 years, the loan converts to a grant; otherwise the city must repay the state. Together with the transferred funds, the city has $500,000 earmarked for the project.
A local non-profit group, calling itself Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS), is to manage the shelter. David Brigode, the leader of SOS, helped develop the concept under contract with the city. The shelter will be 1,250 square feet and made of modular units manufactured off-site and shipped here for assembly. It would accommodate three shelter rooms, sleeping quarters for an overnight manager, a kitchen, dining area, bathrooms, a laundry room and a small office area.
A major concern for the council was the perceived stigma of a shelter, with common perceptions that those in need may be involved with drugs or other unsavory activities, especially near areas where children play.
Brigode responded to that concern when he assured the council, “This is not a halfway house or a drug rehabilitation center. Being near the police station is just an incidental plus.”
Councilman Steve Barbose said, “I think this is just one of those things – that’s just the right thing to do.”
Added Mayor Stanley Cohen, “Yes, and we have the money to get this on its way. And with no opposition. It’s now out to bid.”
Contacted later, Planning Commissioner Tom Anderson recalled, “The planning commission approved the shelter with the tacit agreement that there would be a police presence.”
If the police station is not located at that site, he expressed concern that the commission’s earlier approval of the project “may be subject to review.”