VENTURA : Council Postpones Discussion on Shelter

With only four of seven council members in attendance, the Ventura City Council postponed discussion this week of a plan to open a homeless shelter for the mentally ill in downtown Ventura.

The shelter, which would be located at the Turning Point Foundation’s drop-in center for the mentally ill, was approved by the Planning Commission, but has been appealed to the council by a neighbor of the facility.

The council, which does not meet next week because of the Fourth of July holiday, will consider the issue July 11.

William Orcutt, owner of a parcel on Thompson Boulevard across the street from the foundation, agreed at Monday’s council meeting to postpone the hearing because he wanted the entire council to hear his argument.

Orcutt said the Turning Point Foundation’s mentally ill clients should not be allowed to stay overnight. The Turning Point is a daytime center where the mentally ill drop in for food, health care and companionship.

Starting this fall, however, Turning Point officials want to clear out one of the building’s two rooms each night to make way for roll-away beds and partitions.

The foundation has agreed to certain conditions for their nighttime shelter, such as guests would spend no more than 90 nights in a row at the shelter; at least two employees would remain on duty at all times; and lighting would be added to the back of the building to discourage homeless people from sleeping there.