Neighborhood Improvement Manager Nate Robbins said the city-run Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter can house up to 100 people and offers case management and on-site services to help residents move into permanent housing.

Robbins, who manages the Network for Homeless Solutions, told listeners the shelter is operated by the city with community partners and staffed by city-employed case managers. "The Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter, it's 100 beds, so it can house up to a 100 individuals at a time," he said, adding that case managers typically manage about 25 clients each and there are four such case managers.

Robbins described eligibility rules for entry to the Bridge Shelter: applicants must show ties to Costa Mesa through one of three pathways — residency in the city for more than 36 months, employment in Costa Mesa for more than 12 months, or having children who attend Newport-Mesa Unified School District. He said case managers use third-party verification forms to document those ties.

The shelter provides basic amenities and programs meant to support stability and independence. Robbins listed beds and showers, three hot meals a day prepared by Bracken's Kitchen, an on-site chef, a dog run for pets and a bike program that awards bicycles to residents who make progress toward housing placement.

Robbins framed the shelter as one element of a broader system of care; he said the facility is intended to be a safe, secure place where clients can address documentation, income and health needs while working toward permanent housing. He encouraged community members to refer people in need through the NHS hotline.

The briefing did not cite any changes to eligibility rules, pending policy votes or funding actions; Robbins spoke as an informational presenter describing current operations and how to access services.