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Homeless May Be Booted From Staying At Palo Alto Community Center

PALO ALTO (KCBS) – A group of homeless people, who have been using a community center in Palo Alto as a de facto shelter may soon need to find another spot to sleep at night.

Almost two dozen people are currently using the Cubberley Community Center on Middlefield Road as an overnight shelter, many sleeping in their cars in the back parking lot.

Homeless May Be Booted From Staying At Palo Alto Community Center

But the Palo Alto City Council Policy and Services Committee voted 3-1 on Tuesday night to ban anyone from using the property between 10:30 p.m. and sunrise.

Tom, a nearby resident for the last 30 years, said he's conflicted over the proposed ordinance.

"I just think that there should be some middle ground between what's happened here, the absolute ban, versus doing nothing," he said. "There should be some third solution that allows people a place to live and a place to take care of themselves without being too disruptive to the people around them."

The committee did recommend spending up to $250,000 on programs aimed at getting people off the streets. The recommendation includes spending $150,000 on creating a "homeless outreach team" aimed at working with the most difficult to serve homeless. $100,000 would be used for subsidies to house 10 of the homeless.

Earlier this month, the Palo Alto City Council passed a measure banning anyone from living in their car.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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