From the ashes of the old mental health building the emergency shelter and micro village was revealed to the public on Wednesday June 17th, at 200 Williams Drive in Crescent City. 

Community members came to celebrate the hard work that brought it to fruition.

“It’s really not every day that your career comes full circle, and you literally find yourself helping make plans to burn down your [old] office.” said Shiann Hogan, deputy director for Del Norte County’s Behavioral Health Branch. 

Hogan and her colleagues with the Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services were joined by Del Norte Mission Possible and True North Organizing Network to cut the ribbon on the new 60-bed shelter facility and 50-unit micro village.

“What was once an office space has been transformed into a place that will provide shelter, stability, support, and opportunity,” she said.

The shelter was built using a $10.8 million Encampment Resolution grant secured through collaboration between the Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services, True North Organizing Network and Del Norte Mission Possible.

“Although this project is not the answer to solve homelessness the shelter provides a warm, dry bed for 60 participants in our community further supporting their success,” said Del Norte County Health and Human Services Director Ranell Brown, “And once completed, the micro-village will serve an additional 50 individuals. The two combined will provide a campus that serves almost 25% of the people experiencing homelessness in Del Norte County.” 

This project is a campus model, which is designed to create quick access to all of the supportive services Del Norte Mission Possible has to offer in one location. Access to the Mission Paw-sible dog park for program participants, Emergency Housing Voucher navigation, benefits assistance, healthcare referrals, and case management will all be within the campus.

“What’s special about it is that it offers a continuum of care in one location. What that means is, a fancy word for, a progressive path to life recovery.” Daphne Cortese-Lambert of Del Norte Mission Possible said.

In addition to offering 60 emergency shelter beds and 50 spaces in the micro village, there will be laundry facilities, bathrooms, a kitchen facility, storage areas and a community building. This campus also has a 24-hour onsite staff and supportive services team that will supplement the care of participants.

The campus will not be open to the public for the safety of the program’s participants, but the work that Del Norte Mission Possible does will continue at its outreach events at its navigation center on Elk Valley Road. These places are where intake will be initiated, rather than on campus. The organization hopes to be a boon to the neighborhood.