Mayor offers city’s help in finding a place for the homeless
Susanville Mayor Quincy McCourt appeared during public comment at the Tuesday Feb. 21 Lassen County Board of Supervisors meeting to offer the city’s help in resolving the homeless issue within the city and the county.
McCourt said, “I wanted to see from the city’s perspective if we may be able to help the county in the situation with the proposed supportive housing and one of the locations. So, I’m thinking there are three ways we may be able to help out, and all has to do with what we all think and Mr. Egan as well and our staff, but we might be able to help share information and help better educate the community. We’ve got a couple of ways we could maybe use our mailers with the bills and our city app and a couple of different engagement techniques. And so, we’d love to help out there.”
The consideration of a supportive housing project at a piece of county-owned property located within the city limits on N. Mesa Street has drawn heavy fire from the community because of its proximity to a school and its effect on nearby property values. The Susanville City Council has made solving the homeless problem in the city its top priority.
“Secondly, there might be some ways we could help out with finding the best location,” McCourt said. “We may have some properties that we own or some ideas. I know there’s a lot of effort — I don’t want anybody to think we discount any of the effort staff has made. I think unfortunately there’s also a lot of disinformation over this, and I understand it’s a county project and it is taking place in the city. Conceptually, the feedback I’ve been receiving is people generally understand the concept and that it can be a good thing for the community, but a couple of things. Some people feel like it just came out of nowhere and other people feel it’s not the best location … I definitely support the concept, and I think maybe we can help with the location.”
McCourt also suggested the possibility of an information-only joint meeting between city and county officials and the community in an effort to “bring the community together and brainstorm solutions.”
“We’d love it if the city can help out,” McCourt said.
