WEBVTT WITH MORE ON THOSE PLANS. BIANCA: THE ISSUE IS NEXT ON THE AGENDA AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THE PROPOSED PLAN WOULD PROVIDE ROOM FOR MORE PEOPLE AT THE RIVER STREET CAMP, CORAL STREET SHELTER UNTIL THE CITY CAN FIND A LOCATION FOR A PERMANENT SHELTER. WHEN THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ OPENED A HOMELESS CAMP ON RIVER STREET EARLIER THIS YEAR, RAPHAEL WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO SIGN UP. >> I USED TO HAVE A TENT TOO BUT I HAD PROBLEMS WITH RANGERS OR POLICE. ALL THE TIME WAKE YOU UP, GIVE YOU TICKETS AND STUFF LIKE THAT . RIGHT HERE IS NO TICKETS. BIANCA: HE SAYS BEFORE HE BECAME HOMELESS HE WORKED AS A COOK IN RESTAURANTS BUT A CAR ACCIDENT DERAILED HIM. >> I AM MOST LOST MY LIFE. I GOT STAPLES IN MY HEAD. BIANCA: THE PROGRAM MANAGER SAYS THEIR SERVICES HAVE HELPED PEOPLE GET THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK BUT THIS LOCATION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY AND THE NEED IS GREAT. >> THERE IS A LOT OF DEMAND. I HAVE 50 PEOPLE ON A WAIT LIST RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WANT TO ACCESS OUR SPACE ALSO FOR THEIR CLIENTS. BIANCA: THE CITY HAS STRUGGLED TO FIND A PLACE FOR A SHELTER. >> NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW A PROGRAM MIGHT FIT IN TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SO ITS REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE INTENTION OF THE PROGRAM AND HOW THE PROGRAM WILL BE OPERATED. BIANCA: AS WINTER APPROACHES, THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING EXTENDING THE RIVER STREET CAMP AGAIN THROUGH SPRING AND MAKING ROOM FOR 20 MORE PEOPLE. THE CITY IS ALSO LOOKING AT WORKING WITH FAITH GROUPS TO START A SAFE PARKING PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE LIVING OUT OF THEIR CARS AND RVS. >> THE INTENTION WAS TO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE SO PEOPLE COULD STABILIZE, CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY HERE, AND THEN MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES. IN MANY RESPECTS, THAT HAS HAPPENED. LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY, WE CAN CONTINUE THAT. BIANCA: THE GOAL IS HAVE A PLAN SORTED OUT IN TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MORE THAN $9 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING THAT IS EXPECTED TO COME TO SANTA CRUZ COUNTY NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH -- DAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE COST OF EXTENDING THE RIVER STREET CAMP IS $80,000 A MONTH WITH THE CITY PAYING ABOUT 35% AND SHARING THE COST WITH OTHER CITIES IN THE COUNTY. ACCORDING TO THE CITY’S ANALYST, THOSE FUNDS ARE ALREADY BUDG