Local Evacuation Center to Remain Open at Convention Center For Another Week

The American Red Cross will continue to run the shelter at the Convention Center, according to a statement released by the City on Thursday.

The extension comes on heels of criticism by elected officials and local residents and an ongoing search by the nonprofit for a new location to host the shelter.

“The County of Los Angeles and the American Red Cross continue to search for a new site to relocate the shelter and/or find interim housing for shelter residents,” said Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian. “Today, [Thursday, February 6th], the City of Pasadena, Pasadena Convention Center and American Red Cross confirmed the ability to operate the shelter at the Convention Center for approximately another week until the shelter can be relocated.”

“The City will continue to support this effort to ensure everyone receives the care and assistance they need. In the meantime, the portable trailers for showers, restrooms and laundry will be relocated to the west side of the convention hall.”

However, the County is taking proactive steps to get the remaining occupants at the convention center.

“Currently, Los Angeles County is exploring vouchers for motel stays and other solutions,” said Helen Chavez, who works as Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s field representative.

The evacuation center at the convention center is a short term emergency shelter that was originally scheduled to shutter on Feb. 8, one month after the fire in Eaton Canyon began.

As of Wednesday there were 223 people occupying the convention center.

Many of those people were unhoused prior to the fire.

Pasadena City officials got the evacuation center up 90 minutes after the Eaton Fire began.

The fire forced the evacuation of residents in Altadena and Pasadena.

The next morning, the urgent situation quickly grew into a crisis after many people learned their homes had been destroyed and they had lost everything.

The City later handed over control of the shelter to the Red Cross which has handled disaster recovery around the world.

“On January 11th, the City entrusted the management of the shelter to the American Red Cross, an organization with decades of experience in disaster relief, shelter operations, and mass care,” the statement reads. “Their mission is clear-to ensure that every shelter resident has a safe place to stay, and to help them take the next steps toward stability.”

“Transitions are always part of the shelter process, and the Red Cross is dedicated to making sure no one is left without options. They will continue providing shelter and support until every household has a plan in place for what comes next.”

According to some media reports, at one point more than 1,000 people were staying in the shelter.

Councilmember Steve Madison expressed concern about the shelter closing at Monday’s City Council meeting.

“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 City Council is expected to receive an update on the transition plans.

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.

On Tuesday, a representative with the Red Cross confirmed with Pasadena Now plans to shutter the Pasadena shelter and move the remaining occupants to an as of yet undecided location in Altadena.

“We are just moving the center to a better location,” Angelica Sauceda, regional communications director for the American Red Cross told Pasadena Now on Tuesday. “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.”

According to Sauceda, the move was planned for this weekend.

However, many buildings in Altadena have been decimated which would make it difficult for the Red Cross to find a place to house a shelter.

All of those procedures would have made a weekend move a tough task.

The nonprofit’s transitional team has started one-on-one talks with the remaining 200 plus people staying at the shelter.