Winter Shelter Opens_11.2012

City's Emergency Winter Shelter Program

More than 200 homeless men and women will be out of the cold, having found a warm place to sleep at the City of San Diego’s Downtown Emergency Winter Shelter for homeless adults. The shelter opened Friday, November 23 at 16th and Newton Avenue located on a cul-de-sac.

In addition to the 220 beds, the shelter also offers health care, mental health and substance abuse counseling.

Last year, more than 730 men and women were served from the shelter’s opening November 21, 2011, through April 2, 2012.

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) is administering the temporary shelter for the third consecutive year under a 2010 agreement with the city, while Alpha Project handles the shelter’s day-to-day operations.

News Release: "City of San Diego's Emergency Winter Opens Today for More 200 Men and Women", November 23, 2012

Background

For more than a decade, the City of San Diego has operated an emergency winter shelter program that provides homeless persons protection from inclement weather, and also makes available comprehensive services to address permanent housing needs, mental health screening, drug and alcohol treatment, and job counseling.

On June 29, 2010, SDHC was selected to manage the shelter program which houses up to 200 adults in downtown San Diego, and includes a second site operating in the Midway District for up to 150 military veterans.

Memorandum of Understanding with the City of San Diego, June 8, 2010

Each facility is open for approximately four months beginning in December, and both utilize pre-fabricated buildings that can be rapidly put up and disassembled.

Day-to-day operations for the downtown site are handled by Alpha Project for the Homeless. The structure in the Midway District will be placed at the Navy’s SPAWAR property and operated by Veterans Village of San Diego.

The City Council retains final authority on site selection. The cost for the FY 2010-11 winter shelter program is projected to be $778,115.