By james art The Irvine City Council approved an $18.5 million budget for the purchase of two buildings to be used as the city’s first homeless shelter on Oct. 22.
The property, located at 17572 and 17622 Armstrong Ave. in the Irvine Business Complex, will serve as bridge housing with case managers, support programs and resources to access permanent affordable housing, according to the staff report. This marks the first step in a project called The System, which aims to stabilize at-risk and homeless individuals through interconnected programs and transitional housing.
“The bridge housing option that we’ve been considering is not going to be managed … like a traditional shelter,” City Manager Oliver S. Chee said during the Oct. 22 council meeting. Instead, it will include “a comprehensive campus that includes case management and medical care, not just a place where people go to secure and find shelter.”
The purchase of this property requires the city to post a $1 million non-refundable deposit by Oct. 24 with a 30-day closing period ending Nov. 5. The total budget for the item is $20 million, which includes $1.5 million for various insurances, fees and services.
However, the city council raised some concerns about the potential costs.
“It is ambitious; it’s forward-thinking,” said council member Tammy Kim, noting the project “could suck a city.”
Council member Mike Carroll expressed concern about the project, saying it was “not fully developed.” He added that the purchase was extremely hasty and was not reviewed by various committees.
City Manager Chee responded to Kim’s comment about financial concerns.
“Through the CalAIM program, there are now services that are reimbursable,” Chee said.
CalAIM, led by the California Department of Health, is a medical program that will redirect medical funds to preventive services. Grant funds, housing funds, the Irvine Recovery Fund and the Irvine Business Complex Fund are also expected to supplement the program, according to the staff report.
The item passed 4-1, with Council member Mike Carroll voting against.
The property itself is known as ‘The Sanctuary’, a name coined by city council officials.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, chairman of the Commission to End Homelessness, wrote a letter in support of the issue. He told City Council members, “the creation of the Sanctuary represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges facing individuals and families who find themselves without stable housing.”
At the council meeting, Vice Mayor Larry Agran brought up the possibility of partnering with UC Irvine to offset the costs. He suggested that UCI get involved in the agenda item because transitional housing may be available on campus during the summer. Council member Kathleen Treseder responded that UCI housing is full, with students on waiting lists, and that it wouldn’t be “a great source of temporary housing, but, yes, it’s worth asking.”
The city is expected to close on the deal for the site next month.
Nousha Taghdiri is a news intern for the fall quarter of 2024. She can be reached at [email protected].
Edited by Jaheem Conley