Thousand Oaks plans to amend the city's zoning ordinance by 2010 to allow for an emergency shelter for the homeless as required by the state.

The City Council could have amended the city's zoning ordinance to accommodate the homeless as required by state law during a council meeting last month but voted instead to wait and amend the zoning ordinance later on in the year.

The state does not require the city to construct an emergency shelter for the homeless, but Thousand Oaks and other cities must designate an area where an emergency shelter for the homeless is permitted and determine how many beds are needed.

Currently, homeless people in Thousand Oaks can go to an overnight program open in the winter. Volunteers throughout the city organize dinners and bring food to a different house of worship each day of the week.

The homeless in Thousand Oaks also go to the Lutheran Social Services office at 80 E. Hillcrest Drive, Ste. 101, where they have a place to send mail, pick up phone messages, shower, do laundry and eat lunch. A computer is set up for them to receive e-mail and look for work.

Residents who want to donate money—to be used for the homeless or for gas vouchers for transportation to work—can send checks made out to Lutheran Social Services to the above address in care of winter shelter manager Diana Ortuno.

The group can always use donations of men's underwear, socks and deodorant, Ortuno said.

Walk-in times for LSS are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Clients may be seen by appointment Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call Ortuno at (805) 4976207 or email dortuno@lsssc.org.

—Nancy Needham