Has a transitional housing or tiny-home project already been approved?

No. At this stage, the Samaritan Center is conducting a feasibility study. Supporting agencies have endorsed studying potential solutions — not a specific project. No final housing model or location has been selected.

 

Is this definitely going to be a tiny-home community?

No. Tiny or small homes are only one potential option. The study will compare different approaches, which could include modular or prefabricated buildings, small cabins, traditional construction, conversion of an existing building or other housing models. We want the professional analysis to tell us what works best rather than deciding the answer before the study begins.

 

Are you planning to bring people experiencing homelessness into Simi Valley from other communities?

No. The Samaritan Center’s mission is focused on serving people with ties to Simi Valley. The purpose is to create better pathways for people already experiencing homelessness in our community to move toward permanent housing.

 

Where would it be located?

That has not been decided. One of the central purposes of the feasibility study is to evaluate multiple potential sites using objective criteria such as zoning, infrastructure, transportation, environmental considerations, cost, proximity to services and compatibility with surrounding uses.

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What would transitional housing actually look like?

That is also part of the study. The vision is for safe, structured, time-limited and professionally managed housing combined with case management and supportive services.

 

The study will determine appropriate staffing, supervision, security, capacity, food service, parking, privacy measures and operational standards.

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Would residents simply be given somewhere to live?

Transitional housing is intended to be a bridge to permanent housing, not a permanent destination.

 

Residents would participate in structured services designed to address the barriers preventing them from obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Depending on individual needs, that could include case management, employment assistance, behavioral health services, healthcare connections, benefits assistance and housing navigation.

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What about safety and the surrounding neighborhood?

Safety and neighborhood compatibility are major components of the feasibility study. Potential operations will be evaluated for staffing, supervision, security, site design, privacy, traffic, parking and other measures necessary to create a professionally managed environment for both residents and neighboring properties.

 

Will this increase my taxes?

There is currently no proposal for a local tax increase associated with this study. An important part of the feasibility work is identifying potential federal, state, philanthropic and public-private funding sources and determining whether a project could be financially sustainable.

 

Why not simply enforce laws against camping?

Law enforcement remains an important community partner, but enforcement alone does not create housing.

Without somewhere appropriate for a person to go, moving an individual from one location often simply moves homelessness somewhere else.

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Transitional housing is one potential tool that could provide a structured alternative while people work toward permanent housing.

 

Why not just build permanent affordable housing?

Our community needs multiple housing solutions.

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Affordable housing, permanent supportive housing and transitional housing address different needs. Transitional housing can provide the missing step between living unsheltered and successfully moving into permanent housing.

 

What if the feasibility study determines that this isn’t a good idea?

Then the study will have done its job.

 

A responsible feasibility study is intended to identify both opportunities and problems. If the analysis concludes that a project is financially, operationally or otherwise not feasible — or needs substantial changes — that information will guide future decisions.