St. Joseph's Health will house Humboldt County residents who are experiencing homelessness at the Providence Eureka House.

“We know that the first step towards improved health for those facing housing insecurity is a safe place to sleep,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk, M.D., Chief Executive, St. Joseph Health, Humboldt County. “Providence St. Joseph Health is privileged to be in a position to extend our healing mission to our community and provide the necessary resources to ensure those most at risk have access to the resources they need to lead a healthier life.”

The Providence Eureka House will sit on the current site of the Humboldt Inn on Fourth Street and will include 49 "independent dwelling units" that will house and provide resources to homeless individuals.

"Studies show that secure housing is critical to a community member’s overall health," the release states.

The project is possible through the “Housing is Health” initiative which represents Providence’s commitment to investing in the best practices of community partners, like Providence Supportive Housing and St. Joe's Health-Humboldt County CARE Network (leader of supportive services), who work on temporary and permanent housing in the communities they serve.

The county will be able to refer eligible homeless participants to the housing project from it's coordinated entry system. 

Read more about the project in the full press release below. 

Providence Eureka House: Transforming Lives and 101 Corridor

New Supportive Housing Project in Eureka will Enrich the Lives of Homeless
and Downtown Neighborhood

Eureka, CA (September 18, 2020) – As part of its continued commitment to community members, St. Joseph Health, Humboldt County (SJH-HC) is excited to announce plans for a new supportive housing project that will serve homeless and chronically homeless individuals in Eureka.

Providence Eureka House will be developed on the current site of the Humboldt Inn, a commercial motel on 4th St. in Eureka. Plans include converting the existing 44-room facility into 49 independent dwelling units that will house and provide resources to homeless individuals. Studies show that secure housing is critical to community member’s overall health. St. Joseph Health’s decision to support the project aligns with their mission of serving all, especially those who are poor or vulnerable.

“We know that the first step towards improved health for those facing housing insecurity is a safe place to sleep,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk, M.D., Chief Executive, St. Joseph Health, Humboldt County. “Providence St. Joseph Health is privileged to be in a position to extend our healing mission to our community and provide the necessary resources to ensure those most at risk have access to the resources they need to lead a healthier life.”

The project is the result of the “Housing is Health” initiative which represents Providence’s commitment to investing in the best practices of community partners who work on temporary and permanent housing in the communities they serve. Other partners include Providence Supportive Housing (property manager), and the SJH-HC CARE Network (leader of supportive services). Humboldt County will act as an additional partner by referring eligible homeless participants to the project as units become available from its coordinated entry system.

As part of the project, Providence Supportive Housing will begin development of a minimum of 100 affordable housing units to celebrate the centennial of the founding of St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka in 1920.

“Reducing homelessness is about partnerships,” said Tim Zaricznyj, Executive Director, Providence Supportive Housing. “To make a lasting impact, non-profits, for-profits, governments, agencies, and health systems need to work together. Providence is privileged to work with amazing likeminded organizations in Humboldt County that are dedicated to giving highly vulnerable people a fresh start.”

The health system is making a $3.5M investment which is being supplemented by a grant from the Homekey program and is working to obtain additional grant funding. The Homekey grant program is the state’s response to protecting Californians experiencing homelessness who are a high risk for serious illness and are impacted by COVID-19.

A new 6,400 sq. ft. two-story wing will be added to the existing property to add common areas that will include: community rooms, service consultation rooms, security and management office spaces, storage areas, and a kitchen.

The site redesign aims to create a sense of place and community that is both secure and welcoming for residents, neighboring businesses, property owners, and visitors to Eureka. New and existing buildings will be woven together with a wood trellis, fence and screens that will provide privacy, security, warmth and visual continuity on all street frontages.