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Politics

New Locations To Be Considered For Winter Shelter

Dozens of homeless people lay on beds at the San Diego winter homeless shelter in East Village on November 24, 2009.
Ana Tintocalis
Dozens of homeless people lay on beds at the San Diego winter homeless shelter in East Village on November 24, 2009.

With rain falling over much of San Diego Tuesday the city council will again take up the issue of opening a winter homeless shelter. Two new locations are being considered

The city council has put off a decision twice now on where to locate the temporary winter shelter. Tonight the council will consider whether either the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium or the Balboa Naval Hospital will work.

Earlier this month the San Diego Housing Commission had recommended the shelter be put in downtown’s East Village, where it’s been located for the past several years. But Councilman Kevin Faulconer balked at having the shelter in his district again. In the end he was joined by Council members Ben Hueso, Carl DeMaio and Tony Young in opposing the downtown location.

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The shelter can hold 200 people at a time. Last year about 800 people used the facility. It’s estimated the city will need a temporary winter shelter for at least two more years while San Diego works on building a permanent homeless shelter.

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