What’s happening with the Holloway homeless facility?

The Public Safety Commission at their Monday night meeting received an update on the controversial Holloway Interim Housing Program, a newly initiated project by the city aimed at addressing homelessness.

The project involves transforming the Holloway Motel into a temporary housing facility, for which the city has acquired more than six million dollars in state funding. The program is set to be managed by Ascencia, an organization that already collaborates with the city on interim housing and outreach services. The construction process has begun, with bids having been sent out, and the program is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2024.

Commissioner George Nickle took the opportunity to clarify several aspects of the program in response to questions and concerns from residents. He emphasized that the facility would not function as a traditional homeless shelter where people line up for a bed each night. Instead, it is designed to be an interim housing solution where people can stay for up to 90 days. Residents will be admitted to the program only after undergoing an assessment and intake process. This vetting ensures that only those who are willing to work towards bettering their situation would be admitted. Security measures have been planned to ensure the safety of residents, with 24/7 on-site security.

Residents of the program will have access to a wide variety of supportive services. These services range from basic needs like meals to more specialized care such as case management and housing navigation. Additional support will be available in the form of financial literacy courses, job training programs, and potentially even arts-based therapy programs. All these services aim to assist residents in their transition from homelessness to stable, permanent housing.

Questions were raised about the timeline of the construction and the subsequent admission of residents. While the goal is to complete construction by July of the following year, it was acknowledged that this timeline could be influenced by various factors, including possible delays in the supply chain. After the completion of construction, a 90-day window exists for admitting residents into the facility, in accordance with the terms of the state funding received for the project.

Another important topic that was discussed involved what would happen to residents who reach the end of their 90-day stay without having secured permanent housing. The program’s operators have the flexibility to extend the stay for individuals who are close to securing housing but are waiting on certain processes, such as inspections. On the other hand, those who do not show progress towards achieving their housing goals may be exited from the program for non-compliance.

Community involvement was also discussed as a way to build positive relationships between the residents and the surrounding community. While the smaller size of the site may limit the types of community involvement that can be accommodated, the expectation is that Ascencia will adapt its existing community engagement practices to this new setting. This could mean recruiting volunteers and community organizations to participate in various support programs for the residents, helping to facilitate their eventual transition into stable, permanent living situations.