Community advocates called for long-term housing options for Eaton fire evacuees staying at the American Red Cross temporary shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center on Wednesday, demanding it stay open until that happens amid looming concerns its closure was imminent.

About seven shelter residents stood alongside Fahren James, founder of Black Lives Matter South Pasadena, who also decried poor conditions at the shelter and called for an independent investigation of the American Red Cross for its operation.

“When you care, you do better, and these people need help and solutions,” James said. “We have no real answers to what comes next.”

In response, the American Red Cross has not confirmed it is closing its evacuation center at the Convention Center this Saturday, contrary to published reports.

“Right now, we do not have a close date at all,” said Angel Sauceda, regional communications director for the nonprofit on Wednesday.

She said the organization has no plans to close without first making sure each person sheltered at the center has a place to go.

“If and when that happens, we will notify shelter residents,” Sauceda said. “We will be with them every step of the way. It wouldn’t be us closing the doors and they’re out.”

When the evacuation center closes, shelter residents will leave with a transition plan in place, tailored to each person or family’s situation, officials said.

At an L.A. County briefing Tuesday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger reiterated that assurance, saying the Red Cross and the county will work together to find interim housing for shelter residents.

She also mentioned Feb. 17 as a possible closing date for the center.

“This is a temporary shelter,” Barger said. “It has never been the intent to have the Pasadena Convention Center be a permanent place for housing.”

But community advocate Adriana Bautista said offers for short-term hotel stays is not sustainable for the working poor. She also asked anyone who can offer temporary housing for evacuees to email Altadena HousingHelp@gmail.com.

James said the Red Cross has failed to provide consistent and reliable support to shelter residents and that the city has abandoned them.

Evacuee William Lee of Altadena said he has accepted that he has lost everything in the fires, but conditions in the center are “beyond me.”

“We’re in one giant room with dogs, cats and babies,” he said. “It’s like a giant kennel.”

Marine veteran Bobby Henderson, 88, and his partner, Chatty Brown, 67, were living in an Altadena motel when the Eaton fire broke out. The engine in their car died shortly after they arrived at the evacuation center.

They said the food at the evacuation center is OK, but monotonous. The cots they sleep on don’t help Brown’s back and knee problems. And they feel they’re getting the runaround when they try to connect to veterans resources, even if the center provided Uber rides for them to go to the Veteran’s Affairs office in Los Angeles.

“They keep telling us his case is pending, because we lost his paperwork,” Brown said. “What does that mean? Does it mean we’re not going to get the help we need?”

Barger said she has not heard reports of mismanagement of the evacuation center, which she has visited several times.

“I have to say I’ve seen anything but mismanagement as it related to the quality of services that have been provided to people who need it the most,” she said.

Lisa Derderian, spokesperson for the city of Pasadena, said the city entrusted the management of the shelter to the Red Cross four days after the Eaton fire erupted since it is an organization with decades of experience in disaster relief, shelter operations and mass care.

“Transitions are always part of the shelter process, and the Red Cross is dedicated to making sure no one is left without options,” she said in a statement. “They will continue providing shelter and support until every household has a plan in place for what comes next. While Feb. 8 was set as the goal for transitioning the shelter at the convention center, we want to make it clear that no one will be left behind or shut out.”

Derderian said Red Cross staff on-site can address questions from shelter residents.

“In moments like these, accurate information is critical,” she said. “Misinformation and rumors don’t help the healing process.”