Supervisors press staff on South County shelter options and Gilroy Armory acquisition
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Summary
The Office of Supportive Housing outlined shelter capacity in South County, constraints at the Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center, and the county’s interest in acquiring the Gilroy Armory; supervisors asked staff to analyze armory acquisition, motel usage overlap with agricultural workers, and develop a South County regional homelessness plan.
KJ Kaminski, director of the Office of Supportive Housing (OSH), briefed the Hewlett committee on shelter resources and options for South County, including the Gilroy Armory lease, seasonal use of the Arturo Ochoa Migrant Center for cold‑weather family shelter, and regional coordination with the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill.
Kaminski said the county is the primary funder of all shelter beds in South County and the sole funder of the Gilroy Armory program, which the county currently leases from the state. Staff reported the state has indicated it may sell the armory property and OSH is performing due diligence on potential acquisition and assessing replacement options for shelter beds if sale proceeds.
Kaminski noted limits on using Ochoa: state restrictions cap the percentage of the site available for cold‑weather shelter and prohibit commingling populations during much of the year because the site houses agricultural workers for many months. She said recent legislation requires a state feasibility study about migrant centers’ year‑round use for agricultural workers, and if Ochoa becomes year‑round for agriculture the county will need alternative shelter solutions.
Supervisor Arenas and other members expressed concern that limited local shelter capacity and motel availability in Gilroy can lead to competition between agricultural workers (who depend on motels seasonally) and people experiencing homelessness. Supervisors asked staff to analyze motel usage to understand overlapping needs, to assess armory acquisition opportunities (including timelines tied to state surplus land procedures and a referenced Senate Bill that may prioritize local acquisition), and to explore a South County‑specific homelessness strategy that includes Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Martin.
Kaminski said OSH will include analyses of motel use and armory acquisition in its regional planning conversations and that the county is already coordinating with Valley Water and city partners on options to expand services in coming years. The committee accepted the OSH report.
