Chapter 18.57 — LOW BARRIER NAVIGATION CENTERS

The purpose of this chapter is to implement the provisions of Government Code Section 65660 et seq. relating to low barrier navigation centers. (Ord. 1821 § 1, 2021)

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

A. "Coordinated entry system"

• means a centralized or coordinated assessment system developed pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations as specified in Government Code Section 65662 , and any related requirements, designed to coordinate program participant intake, assessment, and referrals.

• B. "Low barrier"

  • means best practices to reduce barriers to entry, and may include, but is not limited to, the following:

  1. The presence of partners if it is not a population-specific site, such as for survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, women, or youth;

  2. Pets;

3. The storage of possessions; or

4. Privacy, such as partitions around beds in a dormitory setting or in larger rooms containing more than two beds, or private rooms.

C. "Low barrier navigation center"

means a Housing First, low barrier, service-enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter, and housing. A low barrier navigation center may be noncongregate and relocatable. (Ord. 1821 § 1, 2021; Ord. 1884 § 3, 2025)

Low barrier navigation centers shall be allowed as an allowed use in the following zones provided they meet the requirements of Section 18.57.040 :

• A. Mixed-use overlay zone; and

• B. Commercial residential zone. (Ord. 1821 § 1, 2021)

A low barrier navigation center shall meet the following requirements:

• A. It offers services to connect people to permanent housing through a services plan that identifies services staffing.

• B. It is linked to a coordinated entry system, so that staff in the interim facility or staff who collocate in the facility may conduct assessments and provide services to connect people to permanent housing.

• C. It complies with Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 8255 ) of Division 8 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

• D. It has a system for entering information regarding client stays, client demographics, client income, and exit destination through the local Homeless Management Information System as defined by Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

• (Ord. 1821 § 1, 2021)

• A. An application shall be submitted to the planning division of the community development department.

• B. The city shall act within sixty days of receipt of a completed application. (Ord. 1821 § 1, 2021)

This chapter shall remain in effect until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.

(Ord. 1821 § 1, 2021)