County outlines $10.8 million Encampment Resolution Fund project: shelter, micro‑village and navigation center on track for 2025 completion

Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) told the Board of Supervisors that work on the state-funded Encampment Resolution Fund project is underway and remains on a schedule aimed at completion before the next winter season.

DHHS Director Renell Brown told the board the county was awarded about $10,800,000 by the state to create a housing continuum that includes outreach and encampment cleanup, a navigation center, a 60‑bed congregate emergency shelter, roughly 50 micro‑village units, kitchen and bathroom facilities, a community building, storage, laundry and on-site supportive services. “This continues to be a very collaborative project,” Brown said.

What’s done so far: DHHS reported asbestos remediation and controlled burn of the old mental health building were completed in December 2024, site cleanup and foundation removal are nearly finished, and a modular office building renovation is under way. DHHS said it has purchased or ordered two restroom containers, a kitchen modular building, a community room modular building and shelter materials; the micro‑village fold‑up units (“foldum” duplex containers) remain to be purchased and that purchase is expected on the next board agenda.

Site plan and operations: The county presented architectural renderings and a site plan showing the shelter footprint (a 75‑by‑90‑foot metal building, approximately 6,700 square feet) and a separate fenced micro‑village area with duplex pallet homes, two restroom units and green space for a dog area and garden boxes. The shelter design includes eight bathrooms, a laundry area, a dining area and a small recuperative-care area intended for medically fragile individuals who need short-term supervised recovery after emergency-room visits. The perimeter and an internal fence will separate the shelter and micro‑village.

Timeline and budget status: Brown said the county has expended about $3,000,000 and obligated about $6,000,000 so far; the shelter contract and remaining site-work contracts are pending and are the bulk of the remaining obligation. The county noted grant requirements that 50 percent of funds be expended and 100 percent obligated by June of the grant year, and that operations funding must continue through March 2027.

Board and public feedback: Supervisors and members of the public praised progress but asked operational questions. Supervisor Ken Borges and Supervisor Valerie Starkey both thanked DHHS and Del Norte Mission Possible for outreach work. Supervisor Short urged a larger loading platform at the kitchen for deliveries; a public commenter asked the county to anticipate vandalism and to design durable fencing and sanitation to serve people who decline shelter. Brown said she would share construction feedback with the project manager and that Del Norte Mission Possible continues outreach to encampments and plans a public meeting to explain next steps.

Ending: DHHS said it will return with contract agreements, additional procurement items and, if necessary, a time‑sensitive special meeting so the county can meet grant expenditure deadlines. The county anticipates construction and site work complete by August, with shelter operations to follow.