This week the City of Charlottesville followed through on a deadline to remove people from encampments along the Rivanna River as soon as an emergency shelter opened at 2000 Holiday Drive to provide an alternative.
Charlottesville’s chief building official issued a temporary certificate of occupancy early September 1 after work crews cleared a list of violations that held up issuance the day before.
The city closed off the Rivanna Trail at Free Bridge on Tuesday to give space for the clean-up and asked media representatives to stay clear.
By the end of the first day, sixteen people had opted to move into the emergency shelter and the camps were declared to be closed.
By the end of Wednesday night, ten more people had moved in. The city that day also posted a video with Nathan Smith, the CEO of Central Arizona Shelter Services. That firm is being paid $3.2 million for a year’s worth of running the emergency low-barrier shelter.
“Low-barrier shelter means we do everything we can to eliminate all the things that prevent people from accessing shelter,” said Nathan Smith. “For example, people don’t access shelter because they can’t bring their pets.”
In the video, Smith takes viewers through the renovated first floor of 2000 Holiday Drive which includes storage space for people’s belongings.
“We have 240 bins for what could be up to 120 people,” Smith said. “Not certain 120 people are going to be here. If so, great, everyone can have two bins, but if not, maybe they can have three.”
The men’s dorm currently has 37 twin-size beds in a congregate setting but more can be added. Each has a locker underneath. Charging stations are nearby for phones and other devices, but also for health equipment like CPAP machines.
There are currently 21 beds in the women’s dorm. There are also four isolation rooms for a variety of purposes such as if guests are sick.
Tables have also been set up for guests to play games and to share time with each other. Smith said that many people experiencing homelessness are also feeling isolated.
“One of the reasons why people enjoy living in encampment situations is because they have a sense of community,” Smith said. “We want to bring them into a safer space where they’re not worried about getting flooded or the other things that happen with the elements, particularly in the winter.”
On Thursday, the city also released images and a video of what appears to be a person dressed in light clothing lighting two tents on fire the night before. As they walk into the frame of the security camera, they put a hat on their head to shield their identity.
The person briefly leaves the trail and walks to one of the tents still standing alongside discarded items. They use some sort of a mechanism to start a flame and walk away when it ignites. The person that moves further down the trail and appears to walk away. They turn back to catch another tent on fire. This flame burns more quickly and continues to grow as the video ends.
The city asks anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers line at 434-977-4000.
Take a look at the video here.
City Councilor Jen Fleisher updated the members of the Thomas Planning District Commission on the closure of the encampments at the group’s meeting on September 3.
“We’ve moved everyone out into shelter or alternative housing,” Fleisher said. “And that was an effort that involved multiple departments and agencies, as well as nonprofits and community volunteers. We’ve met with 26 guests, well, 27 guests as of this afternoon. Doors are opened.”
Fleisher said Central Arizona Shelter Services is being paid to run the site for the next year while plans continue to be developed to convert 2000 Holiday Drive into a permanent emergency shelter.
Fleisher also said the cleanup of the trail will continue through Saturday and damages to the park are being repaired.
When asked about the fire, Fleisher said the fire happened after the last three residents of the encampment left on Wednesday night.
So far no lawsuits have been filed against the city, but Fleisher confirmed there many people on site observing activities during the removal period.
“While they were with us all day, no one communicated with us any concerns, and I haven’t seen any reports yet,” Fleisher said.
People staying there are getting two meals, a place to shower, and access to case managers.
“That’s the goal, to make this a stepping stone into transitional housing, then permanent supportive housing, and do so by really getting back on or first time connected to that case management, the support needed,” Fleisher said.
On Friday, the city’s Communications and Public Engagement office did another in-house video with City Manager Sam Sanders. He said that even though the shelter is operating under a temporary permit, the intent is for it to never close.
“We’re gonna make improvements to the space while we continue to serve in that location. I see it as a one-stop homeless services center,” Sanders said. “That’s what I would like it to be. That is what we’re hoping that our partners can come together and produce and that we can find as many providers who are willing to come to that location.”
Sanders said the city will also be investing in transitional housing as a next step for many after a congregate emergency shelter. He thanked all involved with the swift opening of 2000 Holiday Drive.
“We started this conversation in mid-July, and here we are in early September with the facility open that I never envisioned could be possible this quickly after buying the building last year,” Sanders said. “And our community partners, the assessment team members, all the folks who have really, really rallied around the idea that An emergency response is what was needed for what was happening at the Rivanna River.”
The topic is likely to come up in some form at City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, September 8.
One item in the packet is Sanders’ written report which contains a mention that he met with the executive director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission on September 1 to “to discuss opportunities to align funding priorities to support a regional response to homelessness using currently allocated opportunities to engage all regional parties in the discussion.”
What will that look like? Stay tuned to Charlottesville Community Engagement.
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