SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif- A village just for the homeless may be coming to San Luis Obispo County. It is called "Hopes Village." It will be equipped with laundry facilities and even gardens, but there are rules.
"That you are clean and sober, you're not using, you don't have any outstanding warrants," said Becky Jorgenson who is heading the project. You also have to work. Jorgenson said the village will be completely self sufficient and won't cost the county money. "We will have numerous jobs, cookie baking, we can do doggie day care, we can do construction projects."
Some people say the plan is flawed. Cliff Chelquist, who was in law enforcement for 31 years, said he's never seen a project like this work. "It will be something that will hang out, it will cost more and more money, somebody will have to come in and take care of it for them." Christopher Morales, who has always had a job and just became homeless forty days ago said having a place to live will give him a second chance. "It will be efficient for me, so I can be self sufficient. It will also give me an opportunity to move to the next level from being homeless."
Homeless advocates are looking for land outside city limits, but the project still needs to be approved by the county.
