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Published on 12/11/1995 All articles from this issue

Council OKs St. Nicholas request for homeless shelter in LAH

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By Clyde Noel / Town Crier Staff Writer

The Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously approved the request of St. Nicholas Church of Los Altos last week to host the Alpha Omega homeless shelter on a temporary basis at its school site in Los Altos Hills.

The Alpha Omega shelter program, rotated around several locations in Los Altos and in Mountain View, and will operate next year at the school site, located at 12816 S. El Monte Ave. Twelve churches participate in the program by hosting the shelter for a month each year.

"At our church, we have more than 100 church members who help to put this program together," said Curtis Church, pastor of the Mountain View Central Seventh Adventist Church. "The rate of return to normalcy in our program is very successful. It's an asset to the community."

Council member Toni Casey described the council's action as a rare opportunity for Los Altos Hills to help the homeless. "Is there any other way we can help with this program?" Casey asked.

"Building up a person's self-esteem is the most beneficial part of the program," Church said. "Many of the people in our community are asked to bring in a meal for the homeless members and then sit down and eat with them."

St. William Catholic Church in Los Altos, one of the hosting churches, can no longer provide a site for this service because of the imminent sale of their property. St. Nicholas officials noted ample facilities at the school site and proposed running the shelter in June and July 1996.

Under authorization from the Los Altos City Council, council member Marge Bruno endorsed the program and encouraged approval by the Los Altos Hills council.

"From a governmental point of view, there have been no police or safety problems," Bruno said in a statement. She said in many cases, the neighbors of the churches are not aware the shelter is being operated in their neighborhood.

The council also determined a conditional use permit is not required for this temporary use.