Navigation Center Annex Project to temporarily expand transitional housing and support for people experiencing homelessness

HAYWARD, Calif., Dec. 9, 2020—The Hayward City Council authorized on Tuesday the temporary leasing of rooms in a hotel in the City to provide more transitional housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Council action, approving a new Housing Navigation Center Hotel Annex Project, is intended to increase by up to 35 people the City’s capacity to provide transitional housing and support beyond what already is available at the year-old Hayward Housing Navigation Center.

During its first year of operation, the Navigation Center, which marked its one-year anniversary on Nov. 18, has successfully placed into permanent housing nearly half of the 91 people it has served during its first 12 months of operation.

Of the total 91 clients served, 45 exited to permanent housing and 26 are still enrolled.  Sixteen individuals exited into a COVID-19 isolation shelter offered through the County of Alameda, and four left the program for other reasons.

Under its original configuration, the Navigation Center could provide short-term housing for up to 45 people in dormitory settings with one meal a day, on-site restroom, shower, laundry and kitchen facilities, and intensive case management geared toward long-term housing placements.  In March, due to COVID-19, it was necessary to decrease operational capacity from 45 beds in two residential trailers to a total of 25 beds. 

The Council approval on Tuesday authorizes the expenditure of up to $1.3 million for the Navigation Center Annex Project for a maximum of six months.  It also grants emergency authority to the City Manager to enter into lease agreements for hotel rooms and a new operating contract with Bay Area Community Services, or BACS, the City’s nonprofit Navigation Center operator, to run the new program.

The Annex program will mirror Navigation Center programmatic offerings but will be housed at a local hotel to provide for isolated shelter for people experiencing homeless who also are considered at high risk of health complications if infected with coronavirus.

The cost of the program was approved not to exceed $1.3 million, and will be almost entirely paid for through $1.21 million in contract savings realized from the scaling back of Navigation Center operations due to COVID-19.