FRESNO - Three out of four newly repaired motels along Parkway Drive are fully occupied, with plans to have the fourth occupied following the next Project Offramp outreach event. These Fresno Housing properties are now providing safe housing to formerly homeless individuals and children. Approximately, 275 individuals including 81 children now have a safe place to sleep at night, all in thanks to this collaborative effort primarily funded by the Homekey Program.
In an unprecedentedly short time period, Fresno Housing and its partners facilitated the purchase, repairs, and occupancy of the motels listed below into immediate housing for families and individuals at high risk. Fresno Housing and its partners recognize that there is still much need in our community, and will not lose focus on the challenges and work ahead to serve those in need.
Since February 1st, three properties have opened for occupancy in an amazing collaboration with community partners. “The work that has been accomplished here is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Tracewell Hanrahan, Deputy Executive Director at Fresno Housing. “In less than two weeks, this community has been able to house or relocate nearly 275 people who were previously homeless or in unstable living conditions and vulnerable to COVID-19,” Hanrahan added. “Many of the persons housed are children who now have a safe place to sleep. This is a true testament to the dedication and commitment each of these organizations has to their work and our community.”
1. Golden State Triage Center (formerly Parkside Inn): Golden State Triage Center is a low barrier emergency housing option for individuals experiencing homelessness. The program has staff to assist individuals in determining more stable housing options through assessment, support, and case management. It opened on Monday, February 1st and within one day had 45 persons housed. Additional referrals will come from the Community Outreach Team.
2. Sun Lodge (formerly Days Inn): Sun Lodge is a low barrier emergency housing option for individuals. Program staff are available to assist with housing needs. It opened on Monday, February 1st, and currently has 102 persons housed.
3. Step Up On 99 (formerly Motel 99): Step Up On 99 will serve as a transitional housing option for families with children and provide support to exit to stable housing. The property opened on Monday, February 1st, and now has 69 adults and 81 children living in a much safer place. This property is now fully occupied.
4. Journey Home (formerly Welcome Inn): This property will open as soon as Thursday, February 12th in collaboration with the outreach team and the City of Fresno Project Offramp. This property will operate as an Emergency Shelter for individuals with a housing focus and case management.
“What really matters is that so many people, including families with children, have a safer place to rest their heads at night during the pandemic. This accelerated and ambitious work of this complicated multi-step process would not have been successful without our partners,” said Doreen Eley, Senior Manager of Homeless Programs at Fresno Housing.
Partners include the City of Fresno, Turning Point of Central California, The Poverello House, KingsView Behavioral Health, Live Again Fresno, the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care, and many more. In continued partnership, Fresno Housing and the City of Fresno will be hosting a Beautify Fresno Cleanup Event along Parkway Drive in an effort to beautify the surrounding neighborhood.
