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Resources for Homeless People in Sebastopol

Information provided by Arthur George, Chair of West County Homeless Advocates. Many thanks to Adrienne Lauby for help with compiling this. (Updated on December 11, 2020).

Sebastopol Inn

The Sebastopol City Council is having its regular and Special Meeting next Tuesday December 15 at 6 pm for regular City business and special discussion of the purchase of the Sebastopol Inn by the County for homeless/elderly/COVID-related housing. The purchase itself appears to be a done deal; what remains to be determined are plans for operations and administration, and selection of residents. This proposal has generated much controversy, including those who are strongly in favor of any effort to reduce homelessness; and others who are concerned about the loss of hotel tax revenues, the impact on local businesses and the city generally, questions about ongoing management of the site, and the degree to which the needs of Sebastopol and West County homeless will be addressed. 
Sebastopol Inn
It appears that eligibility for housing at the Sebastopol Inn will be based upon assessments of elder age, general health problems, and COVID vulnerabilities. Early allotments may be given to those who are already being housed elsewhere (e.g. Santa Rosa) to transition them to a more stable location in the Sebastopol Inn. Federal/State/County requirements indicate that the most vulnerable get preference, no matter where they currently live, and local persons may obtain placement to the extent they may place at the top of each vulnerability ranking. 

Sebastopol homeless persons with the stated vulnerabilities can begin the placement process by screening through West County Community Health, at 652 Petaluma Avenue near Palm Avenue, opposite the former Palm Drive Hospital, to register in the “Coordinated Entry Program.” That will allow them to be assessed for their vulnerabilities and provide information that can be used to evaluate them along with people from other areas and perhaps gain ranking because they have conditions that make them more or at least equally vulnerable and thus gain housing at the Inn.

To participate in the Sebastopol City Council Meeting on December 15th at 6 pm, please refer to this Events Page – https://homelessaction.net/events/sebastopol-city-council-meeting-2/

Beyond the Sebastopol Inn, “Tiny Homes” or other housing alternatives, remain projects for future examination and work. “Safe Parking” and toileting/sanitation have been accomplishments.

Saturday Tables

Sebastopol Christian Church, Sebastopol Methodist Church, Community Church of Sebastopol, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and Enmanji Buddhist Temple continue to provide “Saturday Tables” rotating each week of the month between them with hot lunches to go at noon. The
Portico Italian Social Food at 110 North Main Street is generously partnering with Sebastopol Methodist for its Saturday Table spaghetti lunch.

Below is the rotation for the Saturday Table hot lunches:

  • 1st Saturday – Sebastopol Christian Church, 7433 Bodega Ave (Hwy 12) opposite the fire station.
  • 2nd Saturday – Sebastopol Community Church, 1000 Gravenstein Hwy (Hwy 116, 1 mile from downtown).
  • 3d Saturday – St Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Rd.
  • 4th Saturday – Sebastopol Methodist Church, 500 North Main St, opposite Safeway.
  • 5th Saturday – Enmanji Buddhist Temple, serving at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

Other Food

Sebastopol Christian Church Barnabas Program continues to provide hot breakfasts, showers, and bag lunches on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 am to 11 am, serving up to 30 persons a day, and bag lunches on request and subject to availability throughout the week, with assistance from Community Church. The Food Pantry on the grounds of St. Stephen’s Church provides bagged dry food, milk, canned soups, sauces, beans, hot dogs, milk, eggs, M, W, F, Sa from 10 am to noon, has an abundance of food available, and encourages enhanced utilization. An outreach was conducted to Morris Street vehicle campers to inform them of the Food Pantry.

Laundry Vouchers & Buses

Laundry vouchers remain available through Sunrise Rotary and Sebastopol Methodist Mission Team as administered by Malcolm Andrews in conjunction with Jim Glomb of Rotary. In most cases, Sonoma County Transit buses are fare-free, certainly in local shuttles. 

Medical

West County Health CenterMedical assistance is available through West County Community Health at 652 Petaluma Ave near Palm Ave, opposite the former Palm Drive Hospital.


Safe Parking, Hand Washing & Toilets, Children

Safe parking remains on Morris Street and on most city streets that do not have posted restricted-hourly limits, and to a limited basis at Community Church of Sebastopol. 

The City continues to provide handwashing stations on the plaza, Morris Street, and near the Hopmonk, and portable toilets on Morris Street. 

Sebastopol Center for the Arts offers a “distance learning” site for school children.

COVID and other Dangers

Unfortunately, three Sebastopol homeless persons have died in recent months, two believed drug-related, one from a shooting allegedly to have followed a dispute, but the core downtown homeless community to date has remained COVID-free, and all these services have contributed to this stabilization. 

Contact Information

Addresses and contact information of places referred to above are as follows:

(Check back often for updates)