Republished September 12, 2017 - 5:02 AM
Original Publication Date September 11, 2017 - 10:46 PM
HAGNATA, Guam - The government of Guam is asking owners of apartment buildings to submit bids to provide a temporary shelter to the island's homeless people.
The government is hoping to find out how many private businesses would lease an apartment complex with a minimum of 15 units to serve as a temporary shelter at night, The Pacific Daily News reported (http://bit.ly/2wUeiLb ) Monday.
The project is estimated to cost between $250,000 and $300,000, Guam Housing Corporation President Christopher Duenas said.
"This overnight shelter is the first of its kind for the homeless people on the island," Duenas said. He added that the facility is not meant to serve as a long-term housing solution, but to provide a place where the homeless could take a shower and sleep at night.
"The scope of services will be developed once we ascertain the availability of private partners," Duenas said.
Gov. Eddie Calvo instructed the Guam Housing Corporation to find an apartment complex for the project. "We want to help our people and families who are in need and provide them safe shelter in the evenings," Calvo wrote in a statement.
Guam has about 1,085 homeless people, based on the last count in January 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That's down from the 1,280 homeless people counted in 2015.
Guam created emergency shelters for people and families a few years ago. Although the shelters have been successful, officials said they fill up quickly.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017