Santa Rosa To Use City Parking Lot To House Homeless In Tents During Pandemic

Santa Rosa will soon be making use of a city-owned parking lot to house people experiencing homelessness in tents.

The goal is to provide a space where people living without shelter can maintain safe social distance amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The parking lot at Finley Community Center will include up to 70 tents, spaced 12 feet apart, with each tent accommodating an individual or couple. 

The tents will be provided by the city, and portable toilets, hand-washing stations, meal delivery, on-site management and services will be coordinated by Catholic Charities staff. Overnight on-site security will also be provided.

“We are moving forward with this emergency temporary measure given the urgent need to protect the City’s unsheltered homeless community as they are some of the most vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus,” Mayor Tom Schwedhelm said in a press release. “This new, managed site offers a safer, temporary option for those who have been living outdoors in situations where social distancing is challenging if not impossible.”

Setup of the site is anticipated to begin the week of May 11, with occupancy likely beginning the week of May 18 and lasting through the duration of the county’s shelter-in-place order.

The 24,600-square-foot parking lot is located between the Person Senior Wing building and the Finley tennis courts.