The American Red Cross intends to transition people sheltered at the Pasadena Convention Center starting Friday, Feb. 14, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office.
A new shelter location at Pamela Park gymnasium in Duarte will take in sheltered people, Barger’s office said.
As of Tuesday night, 149 people were living at the shelter, according to the American Red Cross. At its peak, the shelter housed about 1,140 people.
On Thursday, shelter residents received a letter from the Red Cross saying they would be transitioning people from the convention center to “one or two new locations” by the end of the day Friday.
The letter said it was due to accommodating prior commitments for the convention center and to meet the needs of people in the emergency sheltering program.
As of Friday afternoon, the Red Cross had not responded to confirm or comment on the transition.
Last week the Red Cross announced that the shelter would remain open for another week after worries from residents and local officials that it would be closing. The city of Pasadena and Red Cross said that from the beginning that the facility would be returned to the city shortly after the first week of February.
The Red Cross said all residents would continue to have sheltering options until all had a plan in place to get to the next housing solution.
The move comes as the region scrambles to secure housing for those displaced by the fire, which destroyed more than 6,000 homes.
The American Red Cross was also working with the L.A. County Development Authority to find one- and two-bedroom rental units within a 10-mile radius of the Eaton fire footprint, Barger’s office said.
Barger on Thursday, Feb. 13, called on property owners with available rental units to help house people displaced by the Eaton fire.
Barger called the need “urgent” as there remains many who still need shelter in the area.
“We have an immediate need to support wildfire survivors who have been displaced from their homes and want to remain close to their communities,” said Barger, whose district includes Altadena, where the fire did most of its damage. “Many of these families are struggling to rebuild their lives while ensuring stability for their children. I urge property owners with available units to partner with us and provide a lifeline for those in need.”
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is the lead agency working with people experiencing homelessness, Barger’s office said.
According to LAHSA, there are 28 people in the shelter working with the agency who are pre-disaster homeless and are being matched with available resources.
“American Red Cross has told us that everyone is able to move to the new site, regardless of pre-disaster housing status, so participants will not be exited to the street because of the move,” a LAHSA statement read.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.