[UPDATED with information from the American Red Cross] According to a statement by the American Red Cross provided to Pasadena Now the evacuation center at the Pasadena Convention Center is closing its doors this weekend, and the organization is currently searching for a location in fire-ravaged Altadena.
“We are just moving the center to a better location,” said Angelica Sauceda, regional communications director for the American Red Cross. “Most of them are Altadena residents, so we’re trying to move them somewhere where they’re closer to home so they can get back to a little more normalcy before we fully close our shelters.”
When Pasadena Now asked for confirmation that the Convention Center facility would be closing its doors on Friday, Sauceda said, “Yes it will be” before supplying the information on the move.
The relocation is scheduled for this weekend. However, moving to Altadena could be a tall task as many of the buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
The City set up the evacuation immediately after the Eaton Fire situation turned urgent in Altadena and Pasadena. Operating duties were later turned over to the American Red Cross.
The fire broke out a month ago in Eaton Canyon. Seventeen people died as a result of the blaze, and more than 9,000 shelters were destroyed, mostly in Altadena.
The matter, which was not on Monday’s City Council agenda, was discussed briefly.
It was obvious that the City Council had not been briefed on the matter, which came up after Councilmember Steve Madison asked about rumors the evacuation center was closing.
The discussion was part of an update on debris removal and recovery from the wind driven fire.
No one from the American Red Cross was present for the discussion.
The City Council will be briefed on County plans for the evacuees.
“The American Red Cross is actively meeting with the people staying in the shelter,” said Matthew Hawkesworth. “Their transition team is working with each individual person to help them find more permanent space. Some of those people might be transitioning to a motel or a hotel.”
Hawkesworth said the plan was always for the American Red Cross to transition and work with the people staying there to find more permanent housing.
Madison expressed concern for people currently staying in the shelter.
“Not a single person should be turned out. I don’t care if they live in Altadena or in Pasadena or wherever,” Madison said. “These disasters don’t know city limits. We spend so much time, energy, and resources as we should on preventing homelessness and addressing homelessness. If I hear that one person has been turned out into the street by the County and it could happen, believe me, that’s going to be very, very unfortunate if we still have the ability to shelter people in the convention center.”
The center provided comprehensive support services at the facility including a wide variety of free food services, free shelter accommodations, with the Humane Society providing on-site boarding for small pets.
Mental health services were also available to those affected by the fire.
Early on nearly 600 people were staying at the center. According to one media report, there are less than 300 people currently in the evacuation center.
“I tried for hours to find out information from the National American Red Cross, the local office, the person who answered the information line at the Pasadena Convention Center said she couldn’t answer my questions because the information is confidential,” Sonja Berndt said. “She did say there’s no one lined up to provide shelter if the American Red Cross leaves. These people were told that they had to be out by Friday. These are people who have been traumatized. Many of which have lost everything.”
Berndt suggested that the City find other accommodations for people using the Convention Center, including the Rose Bowl.
People staying at the convention center told the City Council that the situation for them is grim.
One person said there is yelling, cursing and fighting daily at the shelter.
“It’s a mad house,” said Patricia James. “There are families and children there that are being exposed to these conditions.”
Others said the American Red Cross has provided no consistency to the residents staying there.
“The turnaround is so insane,” said Jean Bob. “The person you talk to about your life story today is going to be someone else tomorrow and then tomorrow and then tomorrow and then you go numb. It’s absolutely debilitating.”