LAKEPORT, Calif. — Lake County’s emergency homeless shelter is under new management.
On Friday, Redwood Community Services began operating the shelter, located in the former juvenile hall facility at 1111 Whalen Way in north Lakeport.
Unlike how it’s been run in the past, the shelter will now operate around the clock, seven days a week, and won’t require clients to leave during the day.
It will provide up to 35 guests with stable shelter, breakfast, dinner, showers, laundry and support services.
At its Nov. 14 meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved a new $2,417,489.64, three-year shelter contract between the Lake County Behavioral Health Services Department — acting as the lead administrative entity for the Lake County Continuum of Care — and Redwood Community Services to run the shelter, as Lake County News has reported.
Under the new contract, Redwood Community Services will run the shelter through June 30, 2026.
The organization also runs the Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center in Ukiah.
Redwood Community Services staff unanimously approved a new name to mark this new start: Xamitin Haven.
Xamitin (pronounced hahm-i-tin, with a soft “a” as in “father”) is a Northern Pomo word meaning “lake” or “water lying.”
Redwood Community Services will initially work with the 35 current shelter guests. Further information on the intake process and availability will be released very soon.
“We want to support [shelter guests] with getting stable,” said notes Redwood Community Services’ Integrated Health Director Sage Wolf, MSW. “To assist us with that process, we will not be taking in new guests for at least the next week. Staff are making a point to connect with new people who present to the shelter, and encourage them to come back the week of Dec. 11 to get further information.”
Wolf added, “We are also working toward having space in the shelter to accommodate families with children. We expect it may be roughly a month before we are able to accept a full family.”
“The county of Lake would like to thank all who have supported the emergency shelter since it first opened to help unhoused individuals navigate the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Elise Jones, Lake County’s Behavioral Health Services director, in a written statement. “Blue Horizons staff and local lodging operators were critical partners over the past month’s time of transition. Thank you all!”
Wolf said Redwood Community Services is excited to build on the work of previous operators. “We are grateful for the opportunity to serve our unhoused neighbors,” Wolf said. “Further official information will be made available as soon as possible.”
Questions can be directed to Sage Wolf of RCS by email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Redwood Community Services can also be reached at 707-467-2010.
Emergency shelter transitions to Redwood Community Services management
- Lake County News reports
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