Tracy advisory committee reviews shelter progress and accepts county grant to fund interim shelter operations

The Tracy Homeless Advisory Committee on April 17 received a construction and operations update on the city’s temporary emergency housing facility and recommended that the City Council accept a San Joaquin County Homelessness Housing Assistance and Prevention (HAP) Round 4 allocation to help fund shelter operations.

Virginia Kearney, homeless services manager for the City of Tracy, told the committee the city was awarded $436,246 to support operations at the Tracy interim shelter site and that the San Joaquin County Continuum of Care board approved the allocation on March 13, 2025. “This grant is funded by San Joaquin County Homelessness Housing Assistance and Prevention Round 4 allocation and is being allocated to partially fund operations costs at the temporary emergency housing facility,” Kearney said.

The update reviewed shelter operator performance, client outcomes and construction progress for phase 2 of the interim facility. Kearney said the Salvation Army Stockton Corps, the current shelter operator since the contract began, has served 230 unique clients and recorded 300 enrollments from Nov. 1, 2023, through Feb. 8, 2025. During that period the shelter provided 11,205 meals, logged 670 community-cleanup hours (since Aug. 2024) and reported an average length of stay of about 116 days. Kearney said there were 117 HDAP and housing referrals, of which 16 clients entered permanent housing and 33 entered other positive housing destinations; the shelter recorded 74 job referrals with 34 clients employed.

Victor Lopez, construction manager for Roblin Construction Management Services, described progress on phase 2, which will add 68 beds in a sprung structure and other modular facilities. “The structure is due to be delivered here in the next couple of weeks,” Lopez said. He said site work and underground utilities are underway, lighting and curb work have started, and the project remains scheduled to finish in November 2025, though weather has already required recovery of lost days.

Committee members and staff also reviewed related services and outreach. Kearney said the city is implementing a homelessness dashboard that will display HMIS-derived data on the city website; the dashboard pulls data from Nov. 1, 2023, through Feb. 2025 and will go live soon. Tracy Police Department outreach activities were described as coordinated with California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and Union Pacific Railroad to address encampments and trespass letters in partnership with property owners.

Several shelter residents spoke during public comment about the shelter’s role in their recovery and transition. Yada Grimaldo, who identified herself as a Salvation Army Tracy Shelter resident, said, “The shelter has truly saved my life.” Other residents described volunteering, pursuing employment and moving toward reunification with family while receiving services at the shelter.

On item 3b the committee recommended that the City Council adopt the resolution authorizing acceptance of the HAP allocation and appropriate $436,246 to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department homelessness services division to partially fund shelter operations. Committee members moved and seconded the recommendation and voted in favor; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript. The agenda packet also listed a larger figure ($1,236,276) as a grant award and an applied amount ($855,800) in the application text; staff clarified during the meeting that the city’s notified award amount is $436,246 and that the county’s Continuum of Care approved the allocation on March 13, 2025.

Committee members agreed to continue monthly meetings while construction work remains active and noted staff would return with additional procurement items for showers and restrooms. Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Brian McDonald said even after construction ends the city must complete council acceptance, punch-list work and operator transition before an opening can be scheduled.

The committee approved the consent calendar (adoption of Feb. 20, 2025, minutes) earlier in the meeting and later moved to adjourn.

Details on funding, outcomes and next steps will return to the committee and to the City Council for formal acceptance and appropriation.