Humboldt Used Nearly 13,000 Project Roomkey Hotel Nights For Local Homeless Exposed or COVID-19 Positive; Gov. Newsom Adds Funding As Winter Surge Takes Hold in CA

Governor Newsom

Governor Newsom at the West Sacramento motel where he launched Project Roomkey. [Photo from the office of the Governor of California]

California was the first state in the nation to use FEMA funding to provide housing in the form of hotel rooms and trailers, providing isolation space for tens of thousands of people experiencing homelessness, in order to protect them and the larger population from COVID-19 exposure.  As of mid November, close to 13,000 “shelter nights” of isolation have been used in Humboldt County to temporarily shelter unhoused people who were exposed to the novel coronavirus, thanks to Project Roomkey.  

Governor Gavin Newsom announced earlier this month that supplemental one-time funding of 62 million dollars would be made available to keep Project Roomkey alive, for now.  With collaboration making the project possible, the state contracted with Motel 6 and others early on, in order to isolate the unhoused in the time of COVID. 

On November 16th, Newsom stated in a press release

Project Roomkey exceeded all expectations, providing safe shelter to more than 22,300 Californians experiencing homelessness,” said Governor Newsom. “But this pandemic is very much still with us – and we can’t take our eye off the ball. That’s why we’re supporting our counties with this new money, so they can continue this critical life-saving Roomkey mission and help clients transition into more stable, permanent housing. At the end of the day, our top objective for this new funding is keeping everyone – including people experiencing homelessness – safe from COVID-19.

Currently counting more positive cases than they can effectively trace, Humboldt County and indeed jurisdictions across the State and the nation are facing down a third wave that is fast becoming a surge.  The community transmission of COVID-19 has increased recently across California, and the changing weather brings additional complications for the local homeless population, especially in the context of a pandemic ramping up into its anticipated winter surge. 

It turns out, Humboldt County benefited greatly from the Project Roomkey program, receiving at least two disbursements from the State, one allocation totalling $331,688.67 and the other at $305,162.44 in March, following the Governor’s Executive Order.  Both Humboldt County, as well as the Hoopa Valley Tribe, received money to support hotel room purchases via Project Roomkey, as of June.  With a local spike in cases bringing Humboldt into the state’s most restrictive ‘purple tier’, county health officials are urging locals to heed the state’s advisories or face a winter surge that threatens to overwhelm Humboldt’s rural hospitals.  As the county’s COVID tally continues to rise at an untenable pace, and having increasing evidence of community transmission in congregate settings, Humboldt County is prioritizing testing, tracing cases, issuing advisories and bracing for impact.  

Screengrab of Allocations regarding Project Roomkey, issued March 19, 2020 showing HUmboldt County underlined in red.

Screengrab of Allocations regarding Project Roomkey, issued March 19, 2020 showing HUmboldt County underlined in red.

Governor Newsom hit the ground running in mid March with a slate of measures aimed at flattening the first wave of COVID-19 infections, including a first ever housing program aimed at protecting the vulnerable unhoused population of California.  The innovative and somewhat lofty goal of housing homeless folks during a pandemic planned to use mostly FEMA dollars, and relying on local jurisdictions to allocate the monies according to local needs.

When COVID-19 erupted into a global pandemic earlier this year, community spread of the virus among the unhoused population became a very pressing concern for CDPH and county officials across the board.  The governor’s response was to initiate Project Roomkey, which was structured to provide safe accommodations for people who were experiencing homelessness and had also been exposed to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.  

Christine Messinger, Humboldt County Public Education Officer at DHHS Communications confirmed for the Redheaded Blackbelt that indeed, California’s Project Roomkey has made an impact on the COVID-19 landscape locally.  Without the program, many unhoused community members would be generally left to address their healthcare needs in the midst of a pandemic, without the benefit of secure shelter or observation by healthcare professionals.  

Humboldt County has been able to take advantage of the program, and will continue to utilize the relief offered by the expanded funding, according to Messinger who confirmed via email that Humboldt County utilized the Program effectively.   She told us,

Through Project Roomkey funding, so far there have been nearly 13,000 shelter nights provided in Eureka, Arcata and Southern Humboldt to people experiencing homelessness.  We haven’t yet received the details on this extended funding, but we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to keep people safe during the pandemic.

Humboldt’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Teresa Frankovich stated Tuesday in a Media Availability that the local homeless population has been somewhat difficult to monitor, but surprisingly, has not presented an outbreak of infection in Humboldt as of yet.  We asked Dr. Frankovich for an update on testing in the local homeless population, and if the recent spike in cases has been reflected in that community. She stated,

I would say that getting really robust testing in the homeless community is an ongoing challenge for us, but one that we are certainly working on at this time.  We have not detected any outbreaks among the homeless population in our community, and we have not seen a dramatic case rate increase in that population, that you know, that- that we have seen in the overall population at this time.  

So, it’s a situation where we need ongoing monitoring of course, and also it’s just interesting that the it’s not quite clear why we are not seeing as much activity right there, and perhaps there is some protective factor for individuals who are essentially living outdoors where we know there’s a little less risk of transmission, but we’ll continue to monitor.

Project Roomkey was developed to address potential community transmission of the highly contagious virus among this at-risk group of Californians, not only as a preventative measure, but as a disease control measure.  A press release from April 3rd outlined which at-risk individuals would be the focus of the project:

To provide safer options during the COVID-19 pandemic, Project Roomkey isolation units serve three critical public health purposes:

  • Prioritize individuals experiencing homelessness who are asymptomatic, but are at high risk, such as people over 65 or who have certain underlying health conditions, and move them into motel or hotel units where they can more safely self-isolate.
  • Provide isolation capacity for individuals experiencing homelessness who have been exposed to COVID-19 (as documented by a state or local public health official, or medical health professional) that do not require hospitalization, but need isolation or quarantine; and
  • Provide isolation capacity for individuals experiencing homelessness who are COVID-19 positive, but who don’t need hospitalization. Without these isolation units, their only choice is to return to a congregate shelter setting or back to an encampment – both of which would lead to further spread of COVID-19.

The local governments are responsible for identifying which shelter clients or encampment residents are selected for these hotel isolation placements and transporting them to the hotels for intake. 

At a press conference on April 3rd, the Governor addressed the public, and introduced the collaborative project from the site of a prospective Project Roomkey hotel in the northern Bay Area.   “Homeless Californians are incredibly vulnerable to COVID-19 and often have no option to self-isolate or social distance,” Said Governor Newsom.  The governor assured Californians that every hotel/motel used in Project Roomkey would also offer essential wraparound services, including custodial, laundry, security and support staff. 

The Governor’s novel approach to controlling community spread of the infection in the homeless population even included input from the world-renowned Chef José Andrés, although this particular wraparound service was noted as being limited to unhoused folks who were “living in some hotels” as opposed to being available across the state.  While this element of the program may have been unavailable across the entire state, it did make for an appealing offer, stating in the press release, “The Governor also announced a partnership with Chef José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen, which will provide three meals a day to select Project Roomkey hotels through a statewide contract to support local efforts as needed.”  

April 3rd 2020 screenshot of Chef Andres of World Central Kitchen, on Governor Newsom’s Facebook feed advocating for Project Roomkey. 

April 3rd 2020 screenshot of Chef Andres of World Central Kitchen, on Governor Newsom’s Facebook advocating for Project Roomkey.

Governor Gavin Newsom explained, 

By helping the most vulnerable homeless individuals off the street and into isolation, California can slow the spread of COVID-19 through homeless populations, lower the number of people infected and protect critical health care resources. We’re working hard with our county partners to get these hotels up and running as rapidly as possible.  

In a State-issued Interim Guidance for Homeless Assistance Providers, published on April 27th, distribution protocols were outlined for local jurisdictions, stating in part: 

In partnership with local communities, the state is working to identify hotel/motel rooms throughout California that can be made available to individuals or families experiencing homelessness who:

  • test positive for COVID-19 but do not require hospitalization, 
  • have been exposed to COVID-19, or 
  • are asymptomatic, but are at high-risk of severe illness (people over 65 or who have certain underlying health conditions).

 

Sharing a live-streamed press conference from a Motel 6 Project Roomkey site, Governor Gavin Newsom updated the public on the success of the venture, noting that Motel 6 entered into a contract for services with the State of California in order to accommodate the Governor’s plan to provide emergency shelter and self isolation assistance due to COVID-19. 

Facebook post from Governor Newsom on April 27th.

Facebook post from Governor Newsom on April 27th.

In a what is titled as “executive summary,” a letter addressed to all county welfare directors and federally recognized tribal governments, an outline of the program is laid out, in part stating,

Purpose and Goal of Project Roomkey: People experiencing homelessness who are living on the streets and those living in large congregate shelter settings are particularly susceptible to COVID-19.  Lack of access to sanitation, isolation and quarantine, and health care is compounded by increased risk of exposure and subsequent severe health impacts due the prevalence of comorbidities amongst people experiencing homelessness.  According to the CDC, people age 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions are particularly susceptible to serious health impacts as a result of the virus, including death.  Additionally, people who lack stable housing are more likely to use the emergency department of a hospital.  Patients who are experiencing homelessness are admitted to inpatient units five times more often and on average, stay longer than people not experiencing homelessness. 

The purpose of Project Roomkey is to provide non-congregate shelter options for people experiencing homelessness, protect human life, and minimize strain on health care system capacity.

Cropped screenshot of the “sample intake form” offered by CDSS for providers offering Roomkey services.

Cropped screenshot of the “sample intake form” offered by CDSS for providers offering Roomkey services.

‘How do they pay for it,’ you ask?  The funding was sourced mainly from two main areas, with $100,000,000.– from FEMA, and another $50,000,000.– from the California State Department of Social Services to purchase trailers, according to a letter from the department of Finance, also dated March 18th, coinciding with Newsom’s Executive Orders related to COVID-19, Project Roomkey included. 

According to the Executive Order signed by CA Governor Newsom on March 18, 2020, the hotel rooms or trailers would only be available for unhoused community members who were also exposed to COVID-19 or had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result.  With CA Senate Bill (SB) 89, (Chapter 2, Statutes of 2020), Section 36, the State of California “augmented the 2019 Budget Act, making $150 million in state general fund available to support state and local governments (including counties and tribes), and protect the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness in response to COVID 19.”  

As reflected in this letter from the California Department of Finance, but also clearly laid out in the Project Roomkey Fact Sheet, Governor Newsom directed the first batch of the $500 million in emergency funding recently authorized by the Legislature for COVID-19 related activities, which specified the $150 million for local emergency homelessness actions.  More specifically, the state allocated $100 million directly to local governments for shelter support and emergency housing to address COVID-19 among the homeless population, and another $50 million for local governments to purchase travel trailers, lease rooms in hotels, and access other facilities “in partnership with counties and cities to provide immediate isolation placements throughout the state for homeless individuals.”

The Governor’s recent announcement that the project would be bolstered by additional one-time funding, allocated to these three separate areas: 

The $62 million will come from the Disaster Response Emergency Operations Account (DREOA) and will be provided by the Department of Social Services to counties implementing Project Roomkey on a formula basis, to be used as follows:

  • Project Roomkey Operations – $24 million to support continued Project Roomkey operations while local communities develop re-housing plans so that no one is forced to leave a Project Roomkey unit and become unsheltered.
  • Rehousing – $35 million to develop and implement plans to transition individuals from Project Roomkey into permanent housing. This money can be used for rental subsidies, case management, housing navigation and landlord incentives, among other things.
  • Technical Assistance – $3 million to contract with experienced housing providers to deploy housing specialists and provide intensive technical assistance to communities to help them create plans for permanent re-housing of all Project Roomkey occupants.

Most of the Project Roomkey expenses are federally reimbursable under FEMA, for both hotel/motel room occupancy agreements and operating services- at 75% federal share of costs, leaving 25% of the financial burden to the county.  This reimbursement is not a given, and does require documentation, according to FEMA’s process.  

A FEMA approval letter of March 27th by Robert J. Fenton, Regional Administrator of FEMA Region IX, describes the populations that are eligible for reimbursement after accessing the project funds, and the information that must be collected for each individual participating in Project Roomkey. 

In part, the FEMA Regional Administrator’s March 27th letter of approval states,

FEMA will reimburse Emergency NCS costs incurred for: Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 that do not require hospitalization, but need isolation or quarantine (including those exiting from hospitals); Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 (as documented by a state or local public health official, or medical health professional) that do not require hospitalization, but need isolation or quarantine; and Individuals who are asymptomatic, but are at “high-risk,” such as people over 65 or who have certain underlying health conditions (respiratory, compromised immunities, chronic disease), and who require Emergency NCS (non-congregate sheltering) as a social distancing measure.

Each request by an agency is required to meet certain criteria according to FEMA, in order to qualify for reimbursement.  Noting that unsubstantiated claims would not be fulfilled, the letter notes that, “as with any activity, lack of sufficient support documentation may result in FEMA determining that some or all of the State’s claimed costs are ineligible.” Echoing this potential hurdle to being compensated fully, the Project Roomkey Fact Sheet also states “Some individuals may not qualify for FEMA reimbursement based on the eligibility criteria established by local program design and locally established eligibility criteria.”

In a more recent letter dated October 30th, an applicant for renewal of funding is reminded by FEMA COVID-19 Director Pesapane that certain criteria must be met in order to be reimbursed at the 75% rate.  According to Robert M. Pesapane, who is the Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer and COVID 19 Director, Recovery Division FEMA, Region IX, Project Roomkey cost reimbursement is contingent on certain proovable circumstances.  

FEMA COVID-19 Director Pesapane stated, 

As stated in our prior letters, this approval does not include assistance for people experiencing homelessness or living in group housing (whose living situation may make them unable to adhere to social distancing impossible) unless one or more of the three requirements above are also met. 

Now, the project is looking to evolve, with one-time funding of 62 million that aims to allow Project Roomkey operations to continue, and even transition to permanent housing. In addition to directing funding to specific Project Roomkey turned Project Homekey locations in order to secure long-term housing, local governments will be offered resources to place Project Roomkey clients into Section 8 apartments where they live locally.  

For more information about Project Roomkey, you can contact the CDSS Housing and Homelessness Branch at [email protected] .  Additional documents and information are also accessible at https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/housing-programs/project-roomkey .  

 

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54 Comments
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Willa Doogud
Guest
Willa Doogud
3 years ago
Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago

I dont understand, they say that 13,000 shelter nights have been used but they keep saying they are only housing people who tested positive or were exposed to covid. So if they are quarantining them for 14 days that’s 928 people.. But the plague doctor says she hasn’t detected any outbreaks in the homeless population. So if there’s been no outbreaks why are they housing people? This statement seems to directly contradict itself while simultaneously applauding itself.

VHDA
Guest
VHDA
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

My thoughts also??

Geist
Guest
Geist
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

“Prioritize individuals experiencing homelessness who are asymptomatic, but are at high risk, such as people over 65 or who have certain underlying health conditions…”

These dastardly politicians are housing homeless the elderly as well as the sick! How dare they!

tryworking
Guest
tryworking
3 years ago
Reply to  Geist

Yeah on our dollar. Free cell phone, free food, free room, free dog food, free health care. Meanwhile our local businesspeople are going broke.

Jack
Guest
Jack
3 years ago
Reply to  tryworking

Seriously TRYWORKING?????? You have no idea…smh What, do you think that all homeless people have never had a job? Or paid taxes? Or had a home with a family? Do you know that you yourself are not immune to the same thing happening to you? You don’t know their story. You don’t know my story. Just like I don’t know your story. But dude, I worked hard my whole life and paid taxes which helped pay for the programs that provide those things that you say is on your dollar. Well I for one am very glad that they have those programs that provide those things for people who are or become homeless. Unfortunately it happens, I know. It happened to me. I am presently homeless trying to get disability. Also something that I paid taxes for. So please don’t assume that all the homeless people are the same and put us all in the same category. Thank you, Rant over

tryworking
Guest
tryworking
3 years ago
Reply to  Jack

No. I am well aware that folks like yourselves are in need of assistance. We all go through trial and tribulations in life, sometimes those are worse for some than others. I dont begrudge anyone from getting some assistance, especially in a case such as yours. That being said, if I was is your position I would be appalled at the amount of free loading that is taking place. There is only so much assistance to go around. Every time someone takes advantage of the system its less likely that someone like you can get the assistance you need and deserve.

R. Hutson.
Guest
R. Hutson.
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

It is my understanding that an outbreak refers to an infection among a cluster, or several people, while a single case or two is just that, and then are isolated.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Couldn’t get it to make sense either. I thought there was low rates of positive cases in the homeless. Which one is it?

Pharmstheproblem
Guest
Pharmstheproblem
3 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Which ever one scares you the most….

Ceya Darwin
Guest
Ceya Darwin
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Maybe if Doctor Leader came out from behind the curtain of “Media Availability” there could be a real press conference with real questions?

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

“…exposed to Covid19”

This does not mean tested positive.

If you look into any county’s numbers they have far more people “in isolation/quarantine” than cases tested positive.

I assume it’s part of contact tracing to alert people they may have been in close proximity or ‘exposed’ and they should stay in isolation.

Fun with facts!
Guest
Fun with facts!
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

If they ‘keep saying’ it, that really means you keep not really reading it. It’s clearly stated who gets help. Not just case positives. [edit]

Xingu
Guest
Xingu
3 years ago

An intelligent comment is so rare and unusual on this subject I have to say thank you.
Lotta kneejerkers on here
😁

Steven
Guest
Steven
3 years ago
Reply to  Xingu

Most people who have brains question things not blindly follow politicians who lie about everything they say Xingu. Gavin is and will always be a fork tongue lier and hypocrite. His do what I say and not as I do attitude should be intolerable but here in Commiefornia people seem to really love and worship nut jobs and political thieves. So sad to see this beautiful place be completely ruined by Democratic and Liberal lunatics who support and condone communism and straight up lies and disinformation. What a joke!!!!

DQ
Guest
DQ
3 years ago
Reply to  Steven

This now-typical reaction of suspicion and paranoia to any press release from local, state, or federal govt is not some mark or sign of “free thought” or “intelligence,” let alone strength or independence.

It’s predictable at this point. It doesnt make you look shrewd or rebellious.

You look scared and insecure.

R
Guest
R
3 years ago
Reply to  Steven

Steven,
well said.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Xingu

Why is it that some people keep using the remarks section as a place to drain their social abscesses of poisonous rhetoric?

cutomorrow
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

^ therapy

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago

Positive or exposed or not showing symptoms but are of the at risk age group. and since there’s no outbreak among that community whose exposed? Just cause you’re a liberal doesn’t mean you need to get down on your knees for the government blindly showing your loyalty without reading the statement yourself. Liberals when from rebelling against the system to loving its embrace.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Then the article encouraged the same interpretation as the headline is “ROOMKEY HOTEL NIGHTS FOR LOCAL HOMELESS EXPOSED OR COVID-19 POSITIVE”, not ROOMKEY HOTEL NIGHTS FOR VULNERABLE HOMELESS. It includes a paragraph “Humboldt’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Teresa Frankovich stated Tuesday in a Media Availability that the local homeless population has been somewhat difficult to monitor, but surprisingly, has not presented an outbreak of infection in Humboldt as of yet. ” And “According to the Executive Order signed by CA Governor Newsom on March 18, 2020, the hotel rooms or trailers would only be available for unhoused community members who were also exposed to COVID-19 or had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result.” So it is a reasonable question about where they got exposed or at least a person “difficult to monitor” was determined to have been exposed. It is likely that “exposed” was very loosely interpreted in using this program.

If you yourself read the commenter’s post, you would have seen he said “they are only housing people who tested positive or were exposed to covid. ” They did read, you didn’t. As for the nasty commentary on a comment, “Physician, heal thyself” and read carefully before committing yourself to insulting another.

Fun with facts!
Guest
Fun with facts!
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

‘At risk’ regards seniors and others with all varieties of conditions. If he did read, the confusing math would have not been confusing. Troll on, goobers. Newsom is a plastic turd, I give no f’s.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

At risk is not the criteria for RoomKey money. If you are sniffing [edit], it is not from other commenters.

ILoveplants
Guest
ILoveplants
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

According to their info, homeless aren’t getting covid… so why dump all this money on something that isn’t broken. By putting them indoors in close spaces they are actually encouraging spread. Put the money into roads in southern Humboldt that will be very dangerous this winter.

Farce
Guest
Farce
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I’m thinking there are shady statements coming out of our county public health director. Statements meant to direct how we think and act but not necessarily true? I’ve seen it with the hiding behind HIPAA to refuse giving us any useful information about specific clusters or super-spreader events. And now- like you just broke down- I am seeing it again. Shady…But they can clear it up! If they consider my comment a challenge and not a legitimate question to be dodged…

R
Guest
R
3 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Farce,
excellent post.

Xingu
Guest
Xingu
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

The article clearly states at least twice that people who are asymptomatic but especially vulnerable such as those over 65 or with underlying health conditions are also eligible.
[edit].

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Xingu

If someone is asympotmatic that counts as testing positive or being a outbreak [edit]. If 928 homeless people were asympotmatic that would be newsworthy. I’m not reading the article again so I could be wrong but if your over 65 or having underlying conditions you still need to be exposed to covid or test positive. If your going to insult people read the thing yourself. It’s not set up to help the homeless it’s set up to help homeless people with covid which dr plague lady says hasn’t been a problem. [edit]

Fun with facts!
Guest
Fun with facts!
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Well shoot dood, what can I say, you’re the one who doesn’t understand the math. You put it in writing, you’re so lost. Read the criteria and crunch some numbers. Took me a few minutes. [edit]

Fun with facts!
Guest
Fun with facts!
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

“If 928 homeless people were asympotmatic that would be newsworthy”

There could be literally tens of millions of asymptomatic people. The official story could also be complete bullshit. That’s the sad state of civilian affairs.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago

If they had tested positive In humboldt it would be front page worthy to say any different is remedial. That would what double our caseload for the year?

Fun with facts!
Guest
Fun with facts!
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I wouldn’t say different. My only point is that more than just the sick and exposed are allowed. Don’t get me started on the all around illogic. Corporate national franchises like Motel Sux gets tons of money to shelter half as many people for half as long as a local agency could with the same money.

Connie Dobbs
Guest
Connie Dobbs
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

The hotel industry pays a lot in taxes.

curlybill
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I believe persons who are high risk is an additional qualifier.

Farce
Guest
Farce
3 years ago

Cool. So money that the government extorts from me in the form of taxes is being used to put up covid-infected druggies in the only hotel I can afford to stay at- Motel 6. And no- they are not staying in their rooms in self-quarantine believe it or not- they are shedding their covid all over those hotels and surrounding stores. That must be why room rates at Motel 6 have jumped recently- they are already renting out many rooms every night…And the politicians pat themselves on their backs about how awesome they are as they eat out at fancy restaurants and live in mansions- also paid for by us. Yeah- that’s what I got out of this feel-good article.

Fun with facts!
Guest
Fun with facts!
3 years ago
Reply to  Farce

There’s a plan in action to make it seem like homelessness has disappeared altogether. It’s gonna be another ten years before it really manifests. Agenda 21 is a rabbit hole of all rabbit holes, but it’s as real as an official plan gets.

R
Guest
R
3 years ago

Fun,
thanks,

Alf
Guest
Alf
3 years ago

Have the trailers sent for families been used yet or are they still sitting empty? If so many are being given rooms, how come you still can’t drive through old town Eureka without almost running over them packing the sidewalks and streets? Somebody needs to figure out where all this money is actually going. I believe mathematically you would find a higher percentage going to “administrative” costs than actual people in need. As usual the politicians are getting richer while taxpayers are getting cheated.

W
Guest
W
3 years ago
Reply to  Alf

You are right about admin cost not just on this subject but all subjects. There was an article awhile back that most of the homeless funds were spent on adim fees. Maybe this media outlet could investigate. But the only to change this is to vote out the people that are in office. For some reason the same group keeps getting voted in.

Gbeezy
Guest
Gbeezy
3 years ago

1/10 of humboldts population is homeless???

Annie
Guest
Annie
3 years ago

So the county spent $635,000 providing shelter for the homeless?? That’s kind of hard to believe. I’d like to see an accounting of where the money was spent.

Obliviously
Guest
Obliviously
3 years ago
Reply to  Annie

Let me sum it up for you. Figures don’t lie, liars figure!

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Annie

I think they should of just gave that money to Betty Chin, is that how you spell her name? It would of done allot more good for the homeless long term. The government releases a article about what a good job they did and then they read the comment section and are “ the peasants do not appear to be pleased with our benevolence”

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

🕯🌳No they just would have broken in and stolen it from her.🖖🖖

Farce
Guest
Farce
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Betty Chin does a good job. I agree with you. And housing is a real problem. But spending tons of OUR money to put them in hotel rooms is wasteful. While 12 FEMA trailers in Arcata still sit vacant….it’s a shitshow of inefficiency. Bite the bullet and set up trailers for them. Not spread the covid to inexpensive motel rooms!!

Asymptomatic Bureaucracy
Guest
Asymptomatic Bureaucracy
3 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Asymptomatic Bureaucracy.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Surprised liberals are still funding this. as soon as the election was over Dems started kicking homeless out of hotels in sf and oak

Jon
Guest
Jon
3 years ago

Tired of working my ass off to scrape a living in this state that takes so much of it back to give it to drug addicts, politicians and their friends. taxation of labor is one of three stages of slavery

Asymptomatic Bureaucracy
Guest
Asymptomatic Bureaucracy
3 years ago
Reply to  Jon

Agreed!

onlooker
Guest
onlooker
3 years ago

Almost 650K spent on hotel rooms. That’s all well and good and I applaud efforts to provide shelter for vulnerable homeless in these times of COVID. (I know you’re hearing the “But” coming.) BUT 650K buys a large building and pays for at least whatever conversion is necessary, plus pays at least some staff to provide permanent shelter for those same vulnerable people. Making those grants available to Betty Chinn would have provided a significant improvement to our social dilemma in Eureka.

Farce
Guest
Farce
3 years ago
Reply to  onlooker

Thank you for saying this out loud. The administrators pulling paycheck from the public trough to do this with our hard-earned tax dollars should be ashamed of themselves. Instead we see them applauding themselves?! These administrators are the problem. I actually think they are bigger leeches than the drug addicts who ask for so much less…

Fun with facts!
Guest
Fun with facts!
3 years ago
Reply to  onlooker

Yep. It’s not millions of dollars going to anything local anywhere, it’s ultimately being given to the corporatetest of corporate moguls whose subsidiaries build and own the hotels. If you follow the money, it moves in as tight a circle as they can keep it. Room key isn’t really state or national any more than motel sux or other chains. It’s part of a global management plan, and everything right now is a sort of field test/study for the next phase. Agenda 2030. Read up on it if you care/dare, it’s a doozy.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
3 years ago
Reply to  onlooker

650k barely buys anything in CA. With 650k in Humboldt you can buy one nice house, or 2 livable ones, or 3 that are basically shit holes. I don’t think there is any way you could both buy and renovate a large building with that budget.

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3 years ago

What a crock of shit. Is the Health Dept doing round the clock room
Checks to make sure that people are actually quarantined? Does Motel 6 have to tell other patrons that the location in Eureka is an acting Covid isolation ward? Ol Well You Know Frankovitch and French Laundry Newsome will tell you not to celebrate Thanksgiving but it’s ok to put a hundred junkies together and give them free room and board with zero oversight and that’s not going to be a Super Spreader???