The Fairfield City Council has pledged to half the homeless population by 2026. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)
Fairfield targets 50% cut in chronic homeless in next 5 years
FAIRFIELD The Fairfield City Council aspires to cut in half by 2026 the number of chronic homeless residents identified in the 2017 point in time count.
That would reduce the number of chronic homeless in the city to about 139 over the next five years, according to information provided in a Monday night special meeting.
However, Councilman Chuck Timm said he believes the number is misleading, and probably underestimates the actual count.
He said he also believes the city needs to focus on homeless-related crimes, which he said are going up, and dealing with those individuals who refuse to be helped.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
Kim James helps prepare a meal for residents at BayNorth Church of Christ in Fairfield, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2020. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)
Fairfield extends Covid-19 homeless sheltering plan at BayNorth Church
The votes on the ordinance and the agreement were 7-0.
Despite the action, speakers from the public said the city is not doing nearly enough and could redirect money that goes toward other things, such as the police storage costs approved during the meeting, to go toward the homeless.
The contract extends the city’s Emergency Covid-19 Sheltering Plan, which ended at the start of the new year, through April 30.
Fairfield welcomes 2 new council members, 2 returnees
Both had sought council seats in prior elections.
The Nov. 3 election was the first done by district. Panduro will represent District 5 and serve a two-year term. Tonnesen will speak for District 2 for the next four years.
Rick Vaccaro and Vice Mayor Pam Bertani were re-elected to the council but for the first time representing a district rather than the entire city. Vaccaro represents District 4. Bertani ran unopposed and represents District 6.
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After the new members were sworn in, the council voted unanimously, on Mayor Harry Price’s nomination, for Vaccaro as vice mayor.