ARTISTS’ RENDERING of “Pathways Project” planned as a combination navigation center and permanent supportive housing (City of Huntington Beach).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

It’s almost axiomatic that “navigation centers,” a temporary location to help get the homeless off the street and connections to needed services isn’t the long-term solution to the problems associated with homelessness in Orange County and elsewhere.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council a step was taken toward a “permanent supporting housing” development to be called the “Pathways Project.” The council voted 7-0 in favor, but it will really be a long-term operation.

What’s approved is the authorization and execution of an 18-month exclusive negotiation agreement with Jamboree Housing to continue planning and securing funding for “Pathways.” Much of the desired funding will come from grants, rather than from city coffers and the process may take close to two more years before all is in place to proceed to construction.

The ENA will follow an earlier agreement approved in June 2022.

“Pathways” would replace the temporary facility at Beach Boulevard and Cameron Lane, north of Talbert Avenue, which opened in December of 2020 with a permanent four-level facility with the navigation center occupying 9,805 square feet.

The permanent supportive housing will include 70 apartments, with 62 one-bedroom units (572 square feet) and eight two-bedroom units (832 square feet).