Homeless shelter may open early

County officials want to prepare for possibility of heavy rain this winter

With the potential of an El Nino-fueled winter on the horizon, county officials are looking to set aside additional money to allow winter homeless shelters in the county to open earlier than usual.

Members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to give authority to the county CEO to provide $905,000 to allow the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s winter shelter program to begin Oct. 15.

The Homeless Services Authority coordinates the winter shelter program and partners with local agencies to operate shelters throughout the county.

The authority contracts

with Bridge to Home to operate Santa Clarita’s emergency winter shelter, which is located on Drayton Street in Saugus.

Tim Davis, the executive director of Bridge to Home, said the shelter is currently set to open Nov. 23, the Monday before Thanksgiving.

He said he was aware of Tuesday’s county proposal and, though he supports the idea of opening the shelter early if possible, there are logistical issues such as staffing and supplies that would need to be resolved sooner rather than later if the date is moved up.

“We’d love to do it,” he said of opening earlier, “but we need to know how it’s going to operate.”

“I need to know the details of how the county wants to do it; then we’ll jump right in and work on things from our end,” he added Tuesday.

The board’s action comes as forecasters are warning of a potentially historically strong El Nino event, which could bring increased rainfall to California.

The Homeless Services Authority’s winter shelter program began Dec. 1 last year, but with the possibility of strong winter storms on the way this year, “it is critical” to open that program earlier “for the safety of those who are without shelter,” according to county Board of Supervisors documents.