Organization Helps San Diego Homeless Prepare For Wet Weather

The city of San Diego and the County are opening their emergency shelter systems to shield the people from today's storm. Most people will not be in shelters for a number of reasons like to because there's not enough room. Bob McElroy of the alpha project is among the homeless advocates who are trying to keep people safe through the inclement weather. He joins me now. Welcome to the program. Thank you I appreciate it. What has your organization been doing to prepare the homeless for today's rains? We have been purchasing miles and miles of plexus number -- plastic number one because what blankets and socks don't help anybody. We have also been collecting new blankets and socks and gloves and jackets and things like that. Once we get people ensconced in plastic then when they have some warm clothing underneath it gives them a chance. And has just been tremendously frustrating for me not to be able to have a place for people to go. They still have space first 275,000 people. How many people do you estimate could use shelter during these storms. The way it is set up they are not going to bring other belongings on the Street. They can't bring them in for eight hours and then back out to the street got the shelter system works from like six in the evening until 5:00 in the morning and then you are back on the Street. Were not going to leave your pets or your belongings out there and expect to have them there when you get out. Most people do not go. We need something that is 24 seven a place where people can start the process of recovery. And about how many people are living unsheltered all the time in the city of San Diego. I think the counts are six or seven or 8000 citywide not including the County. There's a whole bunch of people out there. The annual count is coming up around the County this month. I guess it is an unscientific view you can give us but have you seen an increase. Are these numbers you are giving us now and increase over the years passed. Absolutely I think the downtown partnership counts almost every day and I think their numbers are up between 50 and 90% increase at -- and our out reach team is the same thing. Was got more people in the riverbeds and the freeway and the overpasses and their as folks headed up everywhere used to see them all of are used to be people are clustered but now it is all the way from 17th Street down the Embarcadero. We have a huge problem. What are some of the ideas as to why there has been this increase. When we did the winter shelter programs have a the 10th we had 225 people and the vets had 150 people over five months from Thanksgiving until April and we transition about 1100 people through that facility and the veterans were transition upwards of six or seven. We do not have that stopgap the truly low housing units with the seniors and things lived in. We turn them all down but did not replace them and we don't have a comprehensive shelter plan. So are you saying that the system is not working? You know they have providers. They are frustrated. I have seen some of them in public meetings and things and they are frustrated as well but they understand the fact that we need to do something. What about people living by the San Diego River. It is rising due to the rains. How do you encourage people living there to take precautions. A lot of the folks down there have been down there a long time they understand the hazards that go was living in a riverbed I think they feel safer down there than they do in San Diego so we get them up on the banks and as I said we get them as many supplies as we can to try to keep them dry and one empty welfare checks on them to be sure that there still around. The mayor is expected to make homelessness a central part of his state of the city address tonight have you been consulted? We have been working with the Mayor's office for about a year now and we've got some potential plans in the works year to make a significant dent and really offer some long-term solutions and encourage them to do that. People listen to this might want to know what they can do to help people who are without shelter during a rainstorm. What can they do? You know a 55 gallon plastic bag that we can make a parking out of is a tremendous resource. The plastic, warm socks, all the stuff that people typically put on when the weather is cold and walk outside. Water is a big deal you know if you really do care about the folks out here -- Where can you drop them off? You can drop them off at 3737 Fifth Avenue and it is the supportive housing program built specifically for the population. I've been speaking with Bob McElroy. Thank you. Still ahead preview of a famous firsts film series and a wrap up of today's top news story the Chargers leaving San Diego. It is 12:44 and you are listening to KPBS Midday Edition.