Faulconer, Gloria Win City Council Approval for New Year-Round Indoor Housing for the Homeless

Interim Housing Program Will Serve Nearly 3,000 Homeless Individuals Annually – Three Times as Many People as the Temporary Winter Tents

San Diego, CA – With ending homelessness as one of the City’s top priorities, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer and City Councilmember Todd Gloria today won City Council approval for their push to create year-round indoor interim housing for the homeless to replace the temporary tents that have been used for years.

“Everyone deserves a roof over their head and the opportunity for a better life and that includes homeless individuals and veterans in need,” Mayor Faulconer said. “Moving away from temporary tents to a year-round program focused on helping people get off the streets for good is a game-changer.”

The City Council unanimously approved the plan to spend nearly $1.9 million annually on an interim housing program operated by St. Vincent de Paul at their downtown campus, 1501 Imperial Ave. The 350-bed program will assist as many as 2,835 homeless individuals each year – more than three times the minimum served annually by the temporary tents.

This effort was directed by Mayor Faulconer and supported by Councilmember Gloria, who each played key leadership roles in finding a year-round interim housing solution to replace the temporary tents.

“This facility will be the front door to a coordinated system of homeless services. Moving this program to a year-round operation will help almost three times as many San Diegans move off the streets annually by connecting them with resources and shelter,” Councilmember Gloria said.

To be operated at the Paul Mirabile Center at St. Vincent’s downtown campus, the program is scheduled to begin July 1 and provide the following:

  • A minimum of 350 beds for homeless individuals on a nightly basis, equal to the number of beds currently provided by the temporary tents
  • Up to 40 percent of beds set aside for homeless veterans
  • Supportive services to stabilize lives
  • Three meals each day
  • 24-hour residential and security services
  • 45-day lengths of stay for residents

About 100 beds will be available in early April to assist with the three-month transition from the closing of the City’s temporary tents to the beginning of the interim housing program. All 350 beds will be available July 1.

The San Diego Housing Commission, which administers the City’s homeless shelters and services program, recommended the St. Vincent de Paul proposal following a request-for-proposals process conducted at the direction of Mayor Faulconer and the City Council.