FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 28, 2023

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO – Mayor Todd Gloria today announced that the City of San Diego’s first site hosting its new Safe Sleeping program, which offers safe, legal camping for people experiencing homelessness, will open to clients tomorrow – ahead of the already aggressive timeline for launching. 

“The Safe Sleeping program is more than just a safe place to sleep; it’s a place for people experiencing homelessness to be connected to the services they need to get back on their feet and to put them on a path toward permanent housing,” said Mayor Gloria. “The quickness with which we’ve stood up this site should be the standard for a crisis this urgent and underscores my pursuit of measures to cut bureaucratic red tape and speed our response to homelessness.” 

The site at the City’s Central Operations Yard in Golden Hill has capacity of 136 tents, each in a space measuring 13’ x 13’. The number of individuals hosted at the site may be greater than 136, as each tent can accommodate two people, and clients may come in with a partner or caretaker. 

The first of two planned Safe Sleeping places, this site will be operated by Dreams for Change under contract with the City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions. It offers a safe and secure alternative to traditional congregate shelters, with on-site amenities and services including restrooms, meals, case management, basic needs assistance and resource referrals.  

“Everyone will benefit when people experiencing homelessness move off of our sidewalks and come to this location instead,” said Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who championed the new program. “People staying here will get a safe place to sleep. And people in our neighborhoods will get sidewalks they can use.”  

Clients will be transported to the site by the agency that refers them, including service providers such as People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) or by San Diego Police Department. On-site service providers will assist with transporting clients to appointments or other activities as needed. 

“I appreciate the opening of this first Safe Sleeping Site,” said Councilmember Joe LaCava. “This is the initial step in our strategic FY2024 investments – shelters, tenant protection, rental assistance, outreach, housing.  Only by working together can we prevent homelessness, support them if they fall out, and expand housing opportunities.” 

The site will be operated around the clock and have 24/7 security. 

The Safe Sleeping program is the latest expansion of the City of San Diego’s homeless shelter offerings. Funded in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, the program will include another site at “Lot O” on the outskirts of Balboa Park near the Naval Hospital and will accommodate approximately 400 tents.  

The sites were selected in early May after extensive review of vacant City-owned land, and work began immediately to prepare them. The Lot O Safe Sleeping facility is slated to open in fall. 

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