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Winter Shelter Site Approved

San Diego city council has agreed on a location for this year’s emergency winter shelter, but not without some grumbling. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more .

Winter Shelter Site Approved

San Diego city council has agreed on a location for this year’s emergency winter shelter, but not without some grumbling. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more .

Two years ago the big shelter tent was ousted from 16 th Street and Newton, after residents of Councilman Ben Hueso’ 8 th district complained they didn’t want it in their neighborhood any more.

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Caryl Iseman wasn’t happy about the new location on 16 th Avenue and J Street in East Village.

Iseman:  You need to stop dumping on East Village, you have to understand we’re business owners, we’re residents, we live there.

Councilman Kevin Faulconer tried to negotiate with his council colleagues by agreeing to accept the shelter in his district one more year. 

Faulconer: But as part of that ,the council would agree it would not remain in one council district for more than  two consecutive years.

But Faulconer lost that battle. The other council members were only willing to commit to quote, “ study other shelter locations,” in other parts of town, not commit to hosting it in future.

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Faulconer said his efforts to find a permanent site for providing year round homeless services will be presented to council next month

Homeless service providers said the 16th Street site is a good one, though the program is  too small to meet the needs of all the homeless who need help.

 Alison St John, KPBS news.