The mayor’s office announced last week the location of the Navigation Center, a new style of homeless shelter, but the date that the shelter will open has not yet been announced.
The Navigation Center will be located at the Pearl Warren Building on 12th Avenue South in the Chinatown-International District. It is a low-barrier, 24-hour shelter based on the model of a shelter in San Francisco that goes by the same name. It will have dorm-style beds, laundry and hygiene facilities, meals and storage areas.
Most importantly, the center will open its doors to those that traditional shelters do not: people with possessions, partners and pets. Clients struggling with addiction are also welcome, although no drug or alcohol use will be permitted on site.
When it’s finished, the facility will be able to host up to 75 people.
While the center is under construction, the Human Services Department and DESC will set up temporary sites with similar services. The Navigation Center is running behind schedule by at least a month.