Shelters Must Open
Ventura County officials are singing a familiar tune--not enough money to open National Guard armories as emergency homeless shelters, as mandated by Gov. Wilson.
But the fact is that it must open the Oxnard Armory this winter, and it must allocate the funds to do so.
Of course, counties should pressure the state to back up its mandates with funding, but given the desperate need for housing all over the state, local governments must make shelters and low-cost housing a priority, taking more initiative to seek funding solutions. According to a survey by the California Coalition for Rural Housing, Ventura County has provided only 3% of the low-cost housing its community members need.
These people should not be made to suffer as a result of the county/state political shell games.
CALLIE HUTCHISON, Executive director, California Homeless and Housing Coalition, Sacramento
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
