Sobriety will not be required of residents at San Rafael’s new temporary shelter site in Terra Linda, officials said.

For months since the controversial project at 350 Merrydale Road was announced, neighbors have asked the city to ban drugs and alcohol at the site, citing safety concerns.

The shelter will adopt the “housing first” approach for programs that are described as “low-barrier” facilities, said Daniel Cooperman, community services director. Sobriety or treatment cannot be required for participation, he said.

The site must operate as a low-barrier shelter because of the shelter crisis declaration that the city authorized in the fall, Cooperman told the City Council at a presentation on Monday.

Cooperman said the city has supportive services that will be offered to participants struggling with substance use.

The housing first model has been used in and around Mahon Creek Path, the site of a city-sanctioned camping area. The city and county have transitioned 21 people into housing — seven of whom lived at the authorized camp. The other 15 gained permanent housing prior to the camp’s establishment.

Neighbors will receive guidelines for raising issues and requesting emergency and nonemergency responses.

Because of neighbors’ concerns, staff agreed to adjust the quiet times to match the city’s nighttime ordinance for weekdays and weekends.

The project has many supporters.

“This is a very reasonable proposal brought forward with a lot of involvement with the community,” Councilmember Maribeth Bushey said. “We look forward to an orderly construction and opening later this year.”

Vice Mayor Rachel Kertz said, “The sooner we can open it, the better. If there is anything that comes to mind that we can do to help facilitate going faster, please bring it back so we can make that decision.”

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