Local Nonprofit Unable to Help Everyone Asking for Shelter During Winter Storms

Pasadena’s unhoused population has been affected by the recent winter storm series far more than most local residents, but resources to help the unhoused during bad weather are short.

From Friday, Jan. 6 through Thursday, Jan. 12, two dozen unhoused people asked for motel vouchers from Friends in Deed, a nonprofit that provides services to the homeless population — but only 19 could be accommodated due to the limited funding.

“We did see an increase in the number of people requesting help during the rainstorm. Currently, without an overnight shelter, we are more limited in the services we can offer on cold and rainy nights,” Friends In Deed Executive Director Rabbi Joshua Grater said.  

“Friends In Deed launched its Bad Weather Supply distribution program last Thursday, where we served 35 clients with coats, hats, gloves, umbrellas, sleeping bags and other items that might be needed. In addition, our street outreach team was seeking out folks on the streets during the day, and providing supplies as well.”

“24 people requested motels and we had funding for 19 people. In order to ensure funds for the entire season, we are limited to how many we can place each week,” Grater said. 

Housing Director Bill Huang said the city does not have a Bad Weather Shelter in Pasadena this year due because efforts to secure a site came up short.

“We continue to look for an appropriate site for next year,” Huang assured. “We know emergency shelter is in short supply throughout the region throughout the year.  Even though more emergency shelter resources are made available during inclement weather there likely is still not enough.” 

Over 500 residents of Pasadena are experiencing homelessness as of January 2022.

Over the past few years, Pasadena focused on its motel voucher program as a readily available option for homeless residents to get shelter. 

Talks about the creation of tiny shelters to solve the need for emergency shelter resources started in 2022 after some Councilmembers requested information on properties that could potentially be used for a tiny shelter community in Pasadena.

Following discussions, the housing department issued a Request for Information last Sept. 21 to determine if there are property owners interested in partnering with the City for the development of a tiny village project.

The community was given three weeks or until Oct. 12 to respond to the Request for Information. Last November, the housing department reported that no property owner in the city expressed interest in the use of their properties as a site for a tiny village in Pasadena. 

Meanwhile, Pasadena is set to experience the next round of storms. 

According to the National Weather Service, more rain arrived Friday night. Saturday and Monday are most likely to see significant rainfall. 

Friends in Deed has a Bad Weather Shelter distribution program every Thursday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., until the end of March. Those who would like to donate items for Friends in Deed’s distribution program, can email Lindsey Reed, lindseyr@friendsindeedpas.org.  

For more information, visit: https://friendsindeedpas.org.