Controversy surrounding Humboldt House may finally be resolved once Mateo Lodge, a non-profit organization, assumes control of the facility by summer’s end. In North Central San Mateo for 13 years, Humboldt House has drawn criticism from neighbors who say the facility is overcrowded and inadequately staffed.
“We hope to take over by September — we’ll begin renovations, and hope to have an immediate impact,” said Ian Adamson, executive administrator of Mateo Lodge. Adamson hopes to allay neighbor’s concerns, who claim Humboldt House is providing resident for more than 30 clients while only being licensed to care for six — leaving their clients to roam around unsupervised, pacing up and down the driveway, sitting in the garage smoking cigarettes and walking down the sidewalk.
Tessie Lascano, who has been Humboldt House’s on-site manager for ten years, says that if a client smokes indoors, drinks alcohol, or violated the 10 p.m. curfew they will be asked to leave.
Lascano points out that the clients are stable.
“Some work at a nearby hotel, and have day jobs. They like to sit and watch the cars go by. They don’t bother anyone.”
Once Mateo Lodge takes over the facility, there will be an “immediate increase in staffing levels, new programs, case management, and more structure,” said Adamson. “The current managers have not been adequately supported, we’ll add three to five staff positions to supplement the managers, as well as operate a mental health support team which would be on 24-hour call.”
Adamson also noted the difficulty in finding shelter for the mentally ill — a crisis exacerbated by the already tight housing market in San Mateo. “The county was concerned about the loss of those beds, once they’re lost it’s hard to find replacements.”
The County recently allocated $500,000 in a low-interest mental health housing loan towards the purchase of the facility, leaving Mateo Lodge requesting $400,000 from the city in order to renovate Humboldt House.
City Councilmember and local resident Claire Mac stated that regardless of Mateo Lodge’s attempts to improve the quality, care and appearance of the facility, that city money should not be allocated to a business in a residential neighborhood.
“I don’t want any city money going to a mental facility in a residential neighborhood,” said Mac, “I want it closed down, there are already two of those things in this neighborhood.”
Not all neighbors of Humboldt House remain adamantly opposed to Mateo Lodge taking over the facility. Dorothy Chow, member of the Home Association of North Central San Mateo, stated that although clients are presently under supervised and without the proper programs, the facility does not need to leave the neighborhood. “We have not raised stronger objections because we know they need somewhere to stay. To me it’s an improvement with Mateo Lodge coming in and taking over. I hope they’ll follow through on their promise to improve the situation.”
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