City council approves East Brundage Lane as location for new homeless shelter
BAKERSFIELD, Calif., (KBAK/KBFX) — The Bakersfield City Council approved a new homeless shelter location Wednesday night.
The council voted for the shelter to be placed at 1900 East Brundage Lane.
Officials selected the former corporate office of Calcot Limited as the best choice for the homeless shelter.
The vote was 4-3: Andrae Gonzales, Ken Weir, Bob Smith, and Bruce Freeman voted in favor.
Chris Parlier, Willie Rivera, and Jacquie Sullivan opposed.
The shelter will allow 150 beds, space for pets, receptacles where homeless individuals could place their belongings and would allow partners to stay together.
Nearby businesses and residents complained that a shelter at the site would increase crime and homelessness population in the area.
The city council also said they plan on investing money to help fix up the surrounding area of East Brundage Lane.
"Council also approved, by unanimous votes, to direct City Staff to develop neighborhood improvement plans for the area surrounding the East Brundage Lane location, as well as the area surrounding the Kern County homeless shelter project; and to direct Staff to develop an agreement with the County on a partnership for that location that includes a $500,000 contribution to the County, which is renewable by the Council annually," city public information partner Joe Conroy said in a statement.
