SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - The city of San Diego’s new storage facility for the homeless opened in the Sherman Heights area Wednesday.
The 22,000-square-foot Storage Connect Center will have 500 lockable storage bins that will allow those using the facility to store their belongings to go to school, work, job interviews or seek support services.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer has touted the facility as part of his effort to fix the homeless issue in San Diego.
"Many homeless individuals have to choose between staying with their personal belongings and going to a doctor's appointment or job interview. This storage facility will change that by giving folks the opportunity to focus on improving their lives rather than worry about losing their possessions. Just as importantly this will help clear our neighborhoods and public spaces of shopping carts, tents and debris," the mayor said.
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Some residents, however, have been concerned by the presence of the building in their community, particularly due to its proximity to a school and church. During public meetings on the matter, several residents said they were worried about how the facility would impact the quality of life in the area.
According to the city, the facility -- operated by Mental Health Systems -- will do the following to ensure it will be a “good neighbor” in the area:
-- Limit storage capacity to 500 bins
-- Clients by referral only for first 90 days of operation
-- Creating a Neighborhood Advisory Committee to develop relationships and partnerships throughout the community to assist with addressing concerns or issues
-- Conducting homeless outreach to reduce homelessness in the surrounding community
-- Preventing queuing around the facility
-- Proactively removing litter, debris and graffiti on the premises
-- Prohibiting alcohol and drug use on site
-- Reporting criminal activity to law enforcement
-- Providing an enhanced level of police presence to address nuisance behavior and criminal activity as necessary
-- Increasing frequency of community cleanups in the area by the Environmental Services Department
