Funding OK’d for next phase of homeless shelter

San Benito County supervisors Tuesday approved more than $1.2 million for the next phase of the homeless shelter project.

Supervisors OK’d the allocation as part of the consent agenda.

According to the agenda on the matter:

The board was to accept all bids received for the Homeless Services Center Building Improvements Phase II project, find Tombleson, Inc. as the lowest responsive responsible bidder, and award the contract to Tombleson, Inc. in the amount of $1.22 million.

When the Health and Human Services Agency first obtained grant funding for the creation of a Homeless Services Center and purchased the building at 1161 San Felipe Road in 2016, the plan was to create a comprehensive, multi-phase project. Phase I included the construction of a homeless shelter using a CDBG award and was completed in November 2017.

Phase II design began shortly thereafter and includes staff offices, client training rooms, and kitchen and laundry facilities for the shelter. Phase III will begin design shortly and includes transitional housing.

This Phase II project was advertised for bids in July with bids due on August 16. Three bids were received and staff identified Tombleson Inc. as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. Construction would begin in early October and be completed in April.