A Ventura County city is taking some major steps to try to tackle its homelessness problem.
The City of Thousand Oaks is teaming up with Ventura County, and a Los Angeles management company to buy a motel, and convert it into a permanent housing site.
In a staff report to the City Council, the most recent study showed more than 240 homeless people in the city. It also noted a shortage of emergency and permanent supportive housing in the community.
The council authorized the city to pursue state funding to buy the Quality Inn and Suites, a 74 room motel on Conejo Boulevard. It also approved an agreement with the county, and the non-profit group Many Mansions to create additional housing for the community’s homeless.
Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill de la Pena, who is a advocate of the effort, says it's a start. "It's not going to solve it," said the Mayor. "But, it will help manage it."
"We can't have people living under bridges," said City Councilman Al Adam. "We can't have people living in tents."
