Supes Approve to Take Next Steps in Two Proposed Permanent Supportive Housing Projects

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Two permanent supportive housing projects for people experiencing homelessness within lassen county will move one step closer as applications are prepared for state funding.

At the Lassen Supervisors’ July 10th meeting, two owner-operators announced their intentions to rehabilitate buildings within Susanville. Grace Poor with Lassen Housing and Grants division says the department believes the projects would benefit the county and help bring new life to buildings that were in despair.

ColWest Properties, co-owned and operated by Melanie Westbrook, long-standing Lassen County resident, and owner of Sierra Desert Properties, is in escrow to purchase 560 Hospital Lane near Diamond View Middle School. Westbrook says the aging facility would be converted initially into ten units to provide housing for homeless youth aged 18 to 24. A future goal would be to expand and provide accommodation to students of Lassen Community College. When asked by the supervisors, Westbrook added that the complex would initially not have on-site management, but as more units are added, management and maintenance personnel would be included.

The second project is through Danco Communities, which is looking to convert the Travel Inn on Main Street, across from the high school, into a 40-unit permanent supportive housing unit for people experiencing homelessness. The project would completely rehab the buildings and rooms to accommodate a kitchen in each apartment and combine some to create a community center. The project would include on-site management. Supervisor Bridges raised concern that the supportive housing is in such close proximity to the high school. To this, Danco’s Chris Dart responded that the property would be fully fenced in and monitor who goes in and who leaves every time and that someone would be on the property full-time. Dart added that these housing units would target the general homeless population.

With unanimous approval from the board, the two groups must compile an application and return it before the supervisors on the 25th with the final dollar amount they each will seek in state funding. Applications are due back to the state by the 28th, and if awarded, each project would have a 15-month completion deadline.