Homeless Navigation Center To Open In Mid-2020

FREMONT, CA — With a green light from the Fremont City Council, city staff will finalize Homeless Navigation Center plans and submit them to the Building Department and outside utility agencies for review. It will be built behind City Hall, and should be ready for occupancy in 8-10 months, according to the City.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the Center, after months of contentious debate by worried residents.

The meeting began with two final choices — the City Hall option and a location on Decoto Road that was fiercely opposed by neighbors.

The Homeless Navigation Center will cost $2.37 million, and will be run by the nonprofit organization Bay Area Community Services.

It will provide up to six months of housing for up to 45 homeless people, as well as one meal a day and a communal kitchenette, toilets, showers and laundry, health services and help in obtaining public assistance and jobs.

The goal is to get people off the streets permanently.

According to the city, a point-in-time count earlier this year found the homeless population in Fremont had gone up by 27 percent since 2017.

Previous Fremont Navigation Center reports:

• Homeless Navigation Center: City Council Meeting Tuesday
• Fremont Homeless Navigation Center Meetings Start Wednesday
• An Open Response to the City of Fremont
• Mayor Lily Mei Seeks 'Compassion' For Homeless
• Hundreds Protest Proposed Homeless Navigation Center In Fremont
• Fremont Homeless Navigation Center: Meeting Tuesday
• Fremont Considers Homeless Navigation Center

Other Bay Area cities are also struggling with homelessness.

• Anger Simmers Over Homeless RV Parking In Berkeley
• Homeless Outreach Program Created By Walnut Creek PD
• San Francisco Targets 4,000 Homeless For Specialized Care
• Napa Valley Culinary Program Helps Students Overcome Addiction, Homelessness

— Patch editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this story