LANCASTER – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to extend the operation of its 100-bed homeless shelter in Lancaster through October. The Board also extended until October 31 the declaration of an Antelope Valley shelter crisis that was first declared in October 2017, the fifth such extension.
“Unsheltered individuals are particularly vulnerable and at high risk of injury and harm due to exposure to the extreme weather conditions in the Antelope Valley, in addition to the other health, safety and welfare-related circumstance and consequences of being homeless,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
The Kensington Campus, located in Lancaster a few miles east of the County shelter, first opened its doors to residents in November. In addition, new “supportive housing” apartment complexes have been built in Lancaster and Palmdale to house homeless veterans and other individuals experiencing homelessness, and other similar complexes are planned.
However, a 2019 count found more than 2,000 homeless people remain without shelter in the Antelope Valley.
“Our partners across the county, cities and community-based organizations across the Antelope Valley are working together to develop sustainable housing solutions in the region knowing that the immediate need for short-term shelter is ongoing,” Barger said.
Open 24 hours a day, the shelter is funded through Measure H, the quarter-cent sales tax Los Angeles County voters passed in 2017 to expand services for homeless people. The shelter is located within County buildings at 60th Street West and Avenue I, adjoining the former Mira Loma Jail and the former High Desert Hospital. The shelter will be operated by Volunteers of America, which took over from the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army had operated the shelter since its creation in 2017.
Volunteers of America, based in Los Angeles, operates shelters elsewhere, including the winter shelter operated this year in a building on Ninth Street East south of Avenue Q in Palmdale. The Palmdale winter shelter will operate through April.
[Information via news release from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.]
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Michael Rives says
Once again Rex Parris, Ken Mann, and Darrell Dorris have proven their ineptness. They opened a complex that doesn’t house but vetted homeless, closed the best shelter in town on Yucca Street, and had the Salvation Army open a shelter on the edge of the desert which is inaccessible. Time for these to be voted out on April 14th.
Alexis says
Michael Rives: I disagree with your comment. I was once homeless, and stayed at the shelter on Yucca Street. It was too small and needed to be shut down for various reasons. The shelter on 60th Street is not run by the Salvation Army anymore, and it is being used to keep a roof over the heads of the homeless, not being inaccessible. There is also Kensington Campus that is going to help so many homeless transition to being productive members of society by offering counseling, shelter, and so much more.
Van Dammit says
What did Rex do with the million dollars the county gave him for the shelter on Yucca Street? Why did he close it. Do not even think Kensington is a shelter. It’s a housing project that made a lot of money for Rex’s pal Scott.
The gravy train keeps rolling in Lancaster.
Eric says
LMAO went there yesterday to get a friend who is homeless housed. They said they aren’t taking anyone due to the virus. I thought that is why they were given money to stay open so they could get homeless people off the streets cause of the crisis. Once again a failed taxpayer program.