KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Project Roomkey, an initiative to house the California homeless population in hotels and motels, is now operational in Santa Clarita, officials said Thursday.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that California has received $150 million of FEMA support, which is set to provide hotel and motel rooms to homeless individuals to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The state’s effort has set an initial goal of securing up to 15,000 rooms, including in Santa Clarita, to house homeless individuals who cannot properly social distance, according to Newsom’s office.
The governor said that California was the first to receive $150 million from FEMA to fund the rooms with wraparound services, such as custodial, laundry, security and support staff, according to officials.
“Homeless Californians are incredibly vulnerable to COVID-19 and often have no option to self-isolate or social distance,” Newsom said. “By helping the most vulnerable homeless individuals off the street and into isolation, California can slow the spread of COVID-19 through homeless populations, lower the number of people infected and protect critical health care resources.”
Hotels and motels countywide are set to be used as temporary homeless housing as COVID-19 impacts some of the most vulnerable residents in the county, said Stephanie English, the Santa Clarita field deputy for Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
“The County is working around the clock, 24 hours a day, to mitigate the spread of coronavirus,” English said.
See Related: Motel In Santa Clarita To Be Used For Homeless Housing During Coronavirus Outbreak
The motel in Santa Clarita is one of many County officials are looking to secure in efforts to provide temporary housing to those experiencing homelessness who cannot adequately quarantine themselves.
The homeless shelter in Santa Clarita, Bridge to Home, recently moved to a temporary, larger location at the Newhall Community Center to provide more beds and increased social isolation.
In addition to securing more homeless housing, the County has many other initiatives to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, including the “Safer at Home” order.
“We are working alongside our partners at the state and federal levels to ensure the most effective measures are in place,” English said.
The County is working on increasing access to testing, with emphasis on first responders and healthcare personnel.
On Wednesday, Santa Clarita received one of many new drive-thru coronavirus testing sites in the county at College of the Canyons.
Along with testing, the County is also working on securing additional personal protection equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves, for healthcare professionals, English said.
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I hope that it’s the Hyatt where I can maintain my Globalist status this year and carry that status for all of 2021 and 2022. If not, I’ll take the Hilton family of brands (locally – Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn, and soon the combo Homewood Suites/Hampton Inn) where I can keep my Diamond status.
Where can I sign-up?
SO_CAL_RETAIL_SLUT
Genius! So they will cram them together inside where the likelihood they get the disease is increased due to the employees they interact with. Then they r all nice and close and pass it to each other. So now u have a bunch of infected homeless w no health insurance and to top it of a bunch of ruined hotel rooms that will now be infected with more than just COVID-19. Smart people… real smart
I live in a senior apartment building w here there is one confirmed case of Covid19. This person walks dog, uses laundry services and gets mail. Not their fault, someone gave to them but Why allowed to not adhere to self quarintine risking others? Heppa should allow others (us) in building if there are other cases and how many on each floor (3 total ). What are our rights during this catastrophic event? If we are not allowed to know and have the choice at what point should we leave? Perhaps we have a safe protected place to go instead of this thing keep catching people as if we are out floating in the ocean as some if these people unfortunately are. We do not care about who it is, just what floor and how many. Why is it Health Department does not care about the value of our life? Is it because as we hear so much…well now this many have died but they were elderly past 60?
I feel bad for those poor people I’m glad they have a place to stay safe. Let’s all unite and help the world be a better place.
Thank you dbkitty, God has a place for people like you in heaven. Your are a compassionate and loo Ving person. The world needs .ore people like you! In God’s eyes we are all the same and until we start acting as such we will not have a decent and peaceful world to live in. Your thinking aligns with God’s.
Well said Carina.