09/13/2026
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE CENTER
We’ve seen several questions and concerns about the proposed Community Resilience Center (CRC), and we want residents to have accurate information about what Helendale CSD is considering.
First, this is a grant application not a final project. HCSD is applying for up to $10 million in State grant funding. This is a competitive process and there is absolutely no guarantee of funding.
What are we actually proposing? The current concept is a new community facility that could include a new indoor basketball court for youth sports programming, with pickleball courts overlaid on the same court; a new Senior Center; classrooms for workshops, craft classes, and youth and teen activities; a multipurpose room for community events and rentals; and a theater/performance space. The goal is to create a facility our community can use throughout the year while also providing additional resources during emergencies.
A few important clarifications:
HCSD is not proposing a homeless shelter, transitional housing facility, or day shelter, nor are we interested in operating this type of facility.
On a normal day, the proposed CRC would operate much like the Community Center we have today with regular community programming, senior activities, youth programs, recreation, classes, meetings and events. It is not being proposed as a place for people to loiter, camp, sleep, or simply remain at the facility throughout the day. Publicly accessible does not mean the facility would operate as an unrestricted drop-in or day shelter.
The CRC would also have an emergency purpose, but that is very different from operating as a shelter.
HCSD is proposing that any emergency evacuation use be reserved for a true large-scale emergency or disaster causing widespread displacement in our community, for example, a major wildfire, earthquake, flood or similar event that makes a significant number of Helendale homes unsafe or uninhabitable.
Think of it this way: if a major fire threatened or destroyed a large number of homes, an earthquake caused widespread structural damage, or flooding forced a significant portion of our community to evacuate, this facility could be available to support our community during that emergency.
A heat wave, someone without air conditioning, an individual household being displaced, or another isolated incident would not trigger the type of widespread emergency evacuation/shelter activation HCSD is proposing.
During heat waves, smoke events or power outages that do not require evacuation, the CRC could provide cooling and clean air, resilient power, charging, communications and other emergency support during normal business hours.
The proposed kitchen would not be open for public use. It would function much like the kitchen currently used for Senior Center programs, supporting authorized food preparation, storage and food distribution. Members of the public would not be permitted to use the kitchen, at any time - including during emergencies.
Being awarded a grant does not mean HCSD automatically accepts the funding or gives the State unlimited authority over how the facility will operate. If selected for funding, HCSD would first go through a required Post-Award Consultation process with the California Strategic Growth Council. During that process, the project scope, work plan, budget, deliverables and terms would be reviewed and refined before a final Grant Agreement is executed.
HCSD would know the terms it is agreeing to before accepting the grant. If the final terms are not acceptable to the District, HCSD is not required to execute the Grant Agreement. Once the agreement is signed, the project would be carried out according to that agreement and the applicable CRC program requirements.
Our intent is straightforward: day to day, this would be a community center for Helendale residents participating in regularly scheduled programming— not a homeless shelter. During events such as extreme heat, smoke or power outages, it could provide emergency support without becoming an overnight facility. Emergency evacuation or shelter functions would only come into play during a true large-scale emergency or disaster involving widespread community displacement.
We welcome questions, comments and concerns about the proposed Community Resilience Center. This project is still being developed, and community input is an important part of the process. HCSD will continue to provide opportunities for public input and plans to hold additional community meetings as the project moves forward.
