Resident urges city review of Turlock Gospel Mission practices after alleged privacy and safety problems

Alyssa Ray Sanaripa told the Turlock City Council she experienced “procedural fairness, safety, privacy, and oversight” problems while staying at the Turlock Gospel Mission and asked the council to review how shelters operating in the city protect women and children. She said surveillance cameras were located within women’s sleeping dormitory spaces that were also occupied by children, creating “a sense of constant monitoring” and raising concerns about consent and dignity.

Sanaripa described an incident involving “unwelcome verbal conduct” from a person who was both a program participant and an employee aiding shelter residents; she said she filed a police report and that staff did not make an immediate staffing adjustment or have the director replace the shift. “When an incident…is serious enough to warrant a police report, the absence of visible safety response can leave residents feeling unprotected and unheard,” she said.

She asked council members to consider formal review and clearer oversight and accountability measures for shelters, including written policies on safety and staff conduct, incident‑response procedures, trauma‑informed training, and complaint mechanisms so residents are not forced to choose shelter access over basic protections.

Mayor/City staff acknowledged the testimony and offered to connect Sanaripa with county resources; staff indicated the council would refer her concerns to appropriate departments for follow‑up.

The council did not take immediate formal action on the allegations; staff indicated next steps would include referrals and follow‑up outreach to the speaker and relevant agencies.