Program would be part of City’s strategy to transition unhoused community
Antioch, Calif., – Tonight, the Antioch City Council will explore the possibility of implementing a Bridge Housing Program for the City of Antioch.
In October of 2018, the City of Antioch was forced to declare a shelter crisis due to the fact that there were not enough shelter beds available to meet the demand for the City’s unhoused community. From that point, through a series of task forces and ad hoc committees, the City of Antioch began the process of developing its policy framework with short and long term strategies to support Antioch’s unhoused community.
“As a city, the needs of unhoused residents challenge us on a daily basis. Contra Costa County is a large geographical area and Antioch is one of 19 cities competing for the County’s regional resources. A local framework enables us to take direct action and best position Antioch to reduce the number of unhoused residents living in encampments,” said Ron Bernal, City Manager. “This kind of approach will improve the quality of life for the entire community.”
If the City Council directs staff to further pursue a Bridge Housing Program, Antioch will formally move towards a model that integrates housing and robust supportive services that ensures all residents have access to the assistance they need to navigate into permanent housing.
“As a community, Bridge Housing is the answer we need to solve the chronic issue of unhoused members of our community living on Antioch streets,” said Lamar Thorpe, Mayor, City of Antioch. “There is nothing more basic and fundamental than the dignity of a place to call home. Through Bridge Housing, we will be able to help our most vulnerable while also strengthening our city as a whole.”
According to a recent study, in 2020, the City of Antioch identified 238 individuals as unhoused with half being identified as Antioch natives. City Council action to proceed would provide a green light to solicit bids for support services and formally launch grant seeking efforts. Grant opportunities may encompass support services, housing costs and any capital needs to establish the Bridge Housing Program, in addition to other strategies identified in the City framework.
Information released today by City of Antioch
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13 comments
I guess Antioch has failed to learn anything from San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles or San Jose. Throwing money at a problem rarely works.
For starters, before throwing money at this why not utilize the homeless trailers first? HAHA Idiots.
Well bill moon what should we do? Let them continue to spread out wherever they can in the city piling up more and more trash, let them take over the waterfront so people feel too nervous to go and enjoy it. Should we arrest them all and pay even more per person each year to keep them locked up. Open hunting season up for a few months. U cry about spending money but where’s your solution?
Stop creating more homeless. There are 3 or 4 Families that I know of that have homes, but the city says it’s not zoned for that, and they have to move. Where are they suppose to go? So the city is going to add three or four more families to their homeless numbers.
Open hunting season ?
Most of these “unhoused” are NOT Antioch people. They just drifted over here. Why aren’t they spread out onto other cities? Or, better yet, send them back to the states they came from. Let those states spend money on housing them. Why is it always us CALIFORNIANS who have to fork over money for their are? Other states are using BUS THERAPY — one way ticket to the end-of-the-line, namely, CALIFORNIA.
In the San Francisco Bay area the cities are close to each other and asong as they have been sleeping in a Motel bought by the county then services should be paid for!
Most of these “unhoused” are not Antioch residents. They just wandered here for some reason. It’s easy to find out where they came from. They should be returned there and not have Californians be given the burden to take are of them. We have enough problems as it is without this additional one. They should either be spread out over all the neighboring cities or given a ONE WAY ticket via Greyhound back to their home states! Why it is always that the California taxpayer is settled with this problem while other states get off scott free?
Maybe Lamar or Coastrider can let them move in to their homes.
How about sending those homeless who got here from other states back to their own states? Is that a problem? How many more fires will they be setting here? How many more feces will be deposited on our sidewalks? How many things will be stolen from our patios and porches?
The article doesn’t even explain “Bridge Housing.” Meanwhile both Lucky’s and Raley’s grocery stores have closed. When you see Lucky’s in Concord and Lucky’s on Contra Loma, I don’t think people will be spending their money at crowded Contra Loma Lucky’s. Talk about systemic racism. Take a look at the stores from just one town over versus what there is to offer in Antioch. Most of these homeless require a not interested in Bridge or any other housing, just drugs. I think something better needs to be done for families or people that just need help. Not these creeps on Buchanan behind my vet.
There may be 19 cities competing…but Antioch is the 2nd or 3rd largest city in CoCo County…these services should already be offered (and probably are) through The County. WE NEED RESIDENTIAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAMS FIRST!! Then let that lead to transitional housing then to permanent housing. Address the root of the problem first.
They better come up with something. The problem is going to get exponentially worse once the eviction moratorium comes to an end and tens of thousands (at least) are thrown out onto the streets.
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