Several prefabricated cabins with decorative ocean murals on their exterior.
Cabins for Change, an interim supportive housing community in Grover Beach, is a project made possible by the County's shelter crisis declaration.

County of San Luis Obispo Extends Shelter Crisis Declaration to Address Homelessness

Author: Homeless Services Division
Date: 1/7/2025 1:00 PM

By extending the shelter crisis declaration, the County of San Luis Obispo allows housing and service providers to quickly and creatively develop new shelter options.


San Luis Obispo, CA—The County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to extend the County’s shelter crisis declaration through December 31, 2025. This extension allows for the continuation of essential measures to expedite the creation and operation of emergency shelters on County-owned public land.

The shelter crisis declaration enables the County to temporarily modify certain state and local housing standards for shelters while maintaining critical health and safety requirements. These flexibilities are crucial for addressing the persistent gap between the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and the availability of emergency shelter beds.

The shelter crisis declaration, initially adopted on September 28, 2021, and extended twice before in 2022 and 2023, facilitated the successful implementation of the 5Cities Homeless Coalition’s Cabins for Change project. This project added 20 year-round emergency shelter beds on County-owned property in Grover Beach and represented a crucial step toward meeting the demand for shelter in San Luis Obispo County. 

"The flexibility provided by the shelter crisis declaration has been instrumental in bringing projects like Cabins for Change to life,” said Jeff Al-Mashat, Administrative Services Manager with the County of San Luis Obispo’s Homeless Services Division. “These shelters are more than just a place to stay—they’re a lifeline for individuals on their journey toward healing, housing, and reconnection with the community."

The County’s shelter crisis declaration will expire at the end of 2025 unless further extended by the Board of Supervisors. 

For more information on the County of San Luis Obispo’s ongoing efforts to address homeless, visit slocounty.gov/HomelessServices.