San Diego has launched its first designated "safe sleeping" zone as part of a multi-pronged approach to address the city's escalating homelessness issue. This initiative aims to provide temporary shelter and support services while also implementing stricter regulations on encampments.
Announced in June, the city's Homeless Strategies and Solutions Department outlined plans to expand services and offer diverse housing options. Mayor Todd Gloria emphasized a comprehensive strategy encompassing expanded shelters, safe parking, and designated safe sleeping areas.
The newly opened tent campsite, located at the San Diego Central Operations Yard, can accommodate approximately 150 individuals. Equipped with 136 tents, restrooms, meal provisions, and mobile showers, the site aims to transition people away from downtown areas. Operated by the nonprofit Dreams for Change, the "low barrier" shelter prohibits weapons, alcohol, and drugs but doesn't mandate sobriety.
A second, larger safe-sleeping area is slated to open in the fall near the Naval Medical Center, with a capacity of 400 tents and similar supportive services. This expansion coincides with a newly passed city ordinance banning tent encampments in all public spaces, set to take effect this month.
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn lauded the ordinance as a crucial step in addressing chronic homelessness, believing that the combination of the ban and the safe sleeping sites will facilitate access to services and housing opportunities.
San Diego's struggle with homelessness isn't new. A 2019 report ranked San Diego County fourth highest nationally in its homeless population. Previous efforts included an $11 million investment in bridge shelters under then-Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Current data indicates over 2,100 individuals are living on sidewalks or in vehicles, a decade-high figure.
Mayor Gloria's proposed budget allocates a significant $81.7 million for homelessness services, a substantial increase from the previous fiscal year, underscoring the city's commitment to tackling this complex challenge.
