Riverside Community Shelter Village
Riverside Community Shelter Village
Transitional Shelter in Riverside, California
Overview
In March 2020, 30 interim shelter units (60 beds total) in the City of Riverside, CA opened for people experiencing homelessness.
Context:
- Action was taken to address the imminent threat to unsheltered population’s health and safety: “for the preservation of life, health, and property” (per City Council memo below).
- City serves as a “regional shelter center” due to lack of shelters in neighboring cities
- The lack of interim bed space capacity in the region: 439 people, only 180 beds (source).
- Martin vs. Boise case – Forces community to build adequate shelter before enforcing anti-camping laws. Case review.
Mission: Pilot new, scalable way to shelter people experiencing homelessness in the City of Riverside.
Site
Owner: City-owned land
Previous Use: Paved parking lot.
Use Arrangement: Master leased to operator via Emergency Housing Operations Agreement
Site Selection Criteria Considerations: Site was city-owned parking lot adjacent to the Hulen Homeless Service Campus, a one-stop multi-service campus of supportive services and emergency shelter facilities. See notes below for additional detail.
Funding
Upfront Development* | $540k | $300k site work (estimate)$240k for the shelter units. HHAP* funding directly to City of Riverside via State’s “The 13 Large Cities” allocations – see notes below |
Cost Per Shelter* | $18k | |
Operating Costs* | $1.2 million | Allocated for one year of operations only. HHAP* funding directly to City of Riverside via State’s “The 13 Large Cities” allocations – see notes below |
Cost Per Shelter* | $40k/year | $109/shelter/night or $55/bed/night (each shelter sleeps 1-2 persons) |
*approximations
Development
Lead Deal Coordinator | ![]() |
City of Riverside |
Construction Management | ![]() |
City of Riverside General Services Department |
Shelter Vendor / Manufacturer | ![]() |
Pallet Shelter |
On-Site Assembly | ![]() |
Pallet Shelter |
Operations
Lead Operator:
Operator | CityNet is a is a team of nonprofit professionals who work to end street-level homelessness in an area through the coordination of community efforts & activities. Based in Anaheim, California and Long Beach, California.https://www.citynet.org/ | |
Agreement | 1-year contract with City of Riverside – via a Temporary Emergency Housing Operation Agreement | |
Staffing |
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Services Provided | Case Management, Logistics, Operations | |
Cost |
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Operating Expenses |
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Press
Why Riverside’s mayor is sleeping in an 8-by-8 metal shed to help the homeless
Riverside builds temporary homeless ‘village’ of 30 tiny shelters
https://riversideca.gov/press/riverside-receives-trailers-help-homeless-who-have-symptoms-covid-19