If you have read this blog before, you are fully aware of the types of portable buildings available for numerous uses. From using a carport to harbor an old clunker you just can’t throw out to setting up a canopy for an awesome party, portable structures are an absolutely essential product for many people. There is another use for portable buildings that isn’t as discussed as the others, but may be more important, at least from a sociological standpoint: emergency shelters. These shelters are used in case of natural disasters and are also used more commonly for homeless citizens in some bigger cities. However, one county is now looking at the shelter areas under a microscope.
Rocklin and Roseville Today reports that Placer County in California is currently changing regulations that clarify where emergency shelters are allowed to be placed:
“Under the new rules, host churches will not be subject to discretionary land-use review by the county. With the Zoning Ordinance changes, church-based emergency shelters that provide humanitarian assistance are now a permitted accessory use not subject to discretionary review when operated on the church sites.
The new rules implement provisions of a new state law that require a local government to identify at least one land-use zone where emergency shelters are permitted uses and thus are not required to obtain conditional use permits or other discretionary permits.”
Thankfully, these regulations may make it a bit easier for organizations to place homeless persons in emergency shelter situations. By reducing the number of permits needed, emergency shelters have a place in Placer County, where many nonprofits have temporary housing:
“Several nonprofit groups provide transitional housing where individuals and families can stay for up to two years while receiving support services. Placer County’s Adult System of Care provides various types of supportive housing where residents are eligible to receive onsite and offsite support services. No limit is placed on how long a resident can stay in supportive housing.”