Davis City Council discusses emergency winter shelter program for Super El Niño

Items include approval of TRIO Affordable Housing finances and appointing members to Human Relations Commission

By Savannah Vela — city@theaggie.org

Davis City Council discussed plans for the upcoming winter season and approved finance agreements for rehabilitation of affordable housing properties during its Oct. 20 meeting. The council also appointed members to fill vacancies on the Human Relations Commission.

An item of focus was the discussion for the Emergency Winter Shelter program for the fiscal year 2026-27 — the discussion centered on whether existing resources would be sufficient to meet the needs for the expected harsh winter conditions due to Super El Niño.

The city’s current shelter resources include eight beds at St. Vincent de Paul’s of Davis and five beds through Fourth and Hope. The city also discussed setting aside additional motel rooms to expand emergency shelter capacity. Councilmember Bapu Vaitla proposed setting aside additional funds to expand the emergency shelter capacity to 10 rooms for four months. 

“If there's any way that we can just see if there's any funds, including the general fund,” Vaitla said. “I know things are extremely fiscally strained.” 

Throughout the discussion, council members emphasized viewing data on the frequency of city services having to turn away requests for shelter due to lack of resources. Social Services and Housing Director Dana Bailey explained the activities and meeting of housing needs by the program in recent years. 

“In the four years that we've run the program, no one [who] needed shelter was turned away,” Bailey said. 

The program relies on the assistance and volunteers of community organizations including HEART of Davis, but organizers expressed that it is primarily the duty of the city. 

“We are happy to partner with the city, but I do believe it’s the city’s responsibility to try to create more shelter than what is currently planned,” Shoshana Zatz, chair of HEART, said.

The discussion highlighted the recurring issue in the city’s approach to winter shelter planning, which happens in late fall following the fiscal budget overview in July.

“Every October, we're here scrambling for shelter beds for a plan for winter shelter,” Zatz said. “It's as if the winter comes as a surprise every year.”

Davis City Council also approved a $15 million financing resolution for the Davis TRIO Affordable Housing project, preserving 131 homes managed by Mutual Housing California. 

The properties — Moore Village, Tremont Green and Twin Pines – require major repairs to continue providing housing to low-income residents. The funding is set to come from state funding for the maintenance of affordable housing projects.

“The buildings are 20+ years old,” Bailey said. “It’s not a sign of mismanagement at all; it’s just maintenance that needs to be taken care of. […] If the buildings deteriorate, that’s housing that’s at risk.”

During public comment for the item Mutual Housing California Acquisitions Manager Parker Evans shared that building renovations for the project would include new appliances, window, lighting and HVAC systems.

“We're extremely proud to bring in more than $15 million in federal tax credit equity to complete this rehab without drawing any new funds from the city's affordable housing resources, which we know the council wants to preserve for permanent affordable housing,” Evans said.

The project does not require additional funding from the city’s affordable housing resources. However, the tax credit requires the creation and movement of a new ownership entity prompting city approval of the property loans and ownership transfer.

“The catch is that the tax credit structure requires a new ownership entity,” Bailey said. “That’s what triggers the need for the city’s approvals.”

Without the city’s approval, the state funding would have been withdrawn, and units would not be revitalized.

The council unanimously approved the resolution for the assumption agreements of the Davis TRIO Affordable Housing projects.

Davis City Council appointed Laura Goldman, Courtney Reed and Natalia Pena to fill the vacancy of three positions on the Human Relations Commission. 

Goldman received a unanimous vote as an alternate member. Reed and Pena were appointed as the regular members for 2027 term and 2029 term.

“I want to serve on the Human Relations Commission to be part of a system that creates a more inclusive, diverse and culturally rich community in which all individuals can thrive,” Pena said.

The next Davis City Council meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 in City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd. Further information of future agendas can be found on the city website.

Written by: Savannah Vela— city@theaggie.org