The resolution – supported unanimously by the present supervisors, though 5th District Supervisor Steve Madrone and 4th District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo were absent – allows a government agency, nonprofit or religious organization to set up a site where homeless residents can park and stay safely while receiving connection to services. While the resolution was initially passed in June, 2022, not a single agency or nonprofit took advantage of it.
This ordinance is the latest in the fallout from the 6.4-magnitude Dec. 20. 2022, earthquake that left two dead and damaged dozens of homes, mostly in Rio Dell.
“There are an abundance of rentals in the southern region down here, where you used to be able to never find a rental there,” 2nd District Humboldt County Supervisor Bushnell said.