Area Homeless Shelter Nearing Its Capacity
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The San Fernando Valley Homeless Shelter is operating “up to capacity” and could overflow if high winds prompt more people to seek shelter there, an official said Monday.
Marlene Singer, manager of programs for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a joint city and county agency, said the shelter has been open continuously since mid-December.
This year, the shelter is located at the Sylmar Army National Guard Armory, a change from its previous Van Nuys address.
“We got a call from the San Fernando police, wondering where to send people if they needed shelter,” Singer said. “But right now we don’t know what the volume will be. It’s one of those wait-and-see kind of things.”
Sunday evening and all day Monday, winds gusting up to 77 mph ripped through the Valley, uprooting trees, downing power lines and playing havoc with freeway traffic. Weather forecasters predict strong winds will persist through today.
Singer said the shelter opened at 5 p.m. Monday, making it difficult to judge the demand in advance. The city-county agency operates several shelters in Los Angeles County, but the Sylmar site, located at 12860 Arroyo St., is the only one in the Valley.
For more information, call (800) 548-6047.
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