Why do we need a low-barrier navigation center?

• The 2023 Point in Time survey indicated that there are 1053 people experiencing homelessness in Tulare County - with 434 of them in Visalia.

• Over 70% of the 1053 individuals are living ‘unsheltered’, when the national average is 35%

• The number of shelter beds in Tulare County has decreased to 387 since 2022.

  Click here to read Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance 2023 Point in Time Survey

What does ‘low-barrier’ mean?

According to the US Interagency Council on Homelessness:

Communities should have effective models of emergency shelter and other temporary accommodations available that:

• Meet the needs of all members of a household and self-defined family and kinship groups, including infants and young children

• Do not turn people away or make access contingent on sobriety, minimum income requirements, or lack of a criminal history

• Do not require family members and partners to separate from one another in order to access shelter

• Ensure that policies and procedures promote dignity and respect for every person seeking or needing shelter

• Provide a safe, decent, welcoming, and appropriate temporary living environment, where daily needs can be met while pathways back to safe living arrangements or directly into housing programs are being pursued