SHELTER SET TO OPEN IN DECEMBER HOMELESS EMERGENCY FACILITY WON'T CLOSE UNTIL MARCH 15.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - An emergency winter shelter for the homeless is slated to open by mid-December as organizers scramble to rebuild the 40-bed facility from scratch.

The Santa Clarita Community Development Corp. aims to open the shelter for the ninth consecutive winter on a county Department of Public Works maintenance yard at 21190 Centre Pointe Parkway between Dec. 9 and 15, officials said Tuesday. The shelter will close March 15.

Among the challenges are whether crews can deliver and convert two double-wide trailers into a code-approved shelter; securing portable toilets and wash basins; and hiring two night security guards. The trailers are scheduled to arrive Dec. 5.

``The 9th is the most optimistic, and that's with all the plans lined up,'' shelter manager Barbara Preheim said of the opening date. ``We can't guarantee that, but that's what we're trying. The latest will be the 15th.''

The projected opening dates come after Dec. 1, when winter shelters throughout Los Angeles County are scheduled to open. But it's earlier than the Dec. 24 opening last year, when politics and the usual rash of NIMBYism endemic to areas near proposed shelter sites clouded the program's future.

The Community Development Corp. does not own property, and shelter organizers must disassemble and rebuild the facility every few years at a new site. It landed at the public works yard last year after its lease with the city of Santa Clarita to operate at the Via Princessa Metrolink station's parking lot expired.

This year, county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich proposed to stage the shelter at the Pitchess Detention Center's parking lot, in the unincorporated community of Castaic northwest of the city. But area residents shouted down the plan, and with the clock ticking, officials once again turned to the maintenance yard, which is in the city.

``Supervisor Antonovich is obviously pleased that we are able to work with all the interested parties to complete the process,'' said Tony Bell, a spokesman for the 5th District county supervisor. ``We will be able to provide a place for the homeless in the cold winter months.''

It's uncertain where the shelter will go next winter. County officials preferred to focus on this year, while the city wants to press the county to abide by a deal to host the shelter in the unincorporated area alternate years. Despite the annual bout with controversy, Preheim remains optimistic.

``The miracle is it always happens,'' she said. ``It's just wonderful. It just all comes together, and it's coming together again this year.''

The Santa Clarita Valley in 2005 is home to about 231,921, with a median household income of $79,200, according to the Goleta, Calif.-based California Economic Forecast. About 77 people used the shelter last year, the SCCDC said.

Preheim said she is recruiting volunteers to prepare dinner - she still has about 80 evenings to fill.

``We don't have running water up there and everything needs to be disposable,'' she said. ``If people bring food, they have to be warm. We don't have a kitchen up there.''

The shelter also needs bottled water, paper plates and plastic utensils; hot drink mixes such as coffee and cocoa;and instant soup, oatmeal and savory snacks.

``We like to put that in the lunches,'' Preheim said. ``A lot of them work, and they need the salt.'' Prospective volunteers and donors can contact the SCCDC at [phone] for more information.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com