The San Diego City Council is looking at adding more transitional storage sites designed to help people who are homeless. This comes as the city of San Diego is still working to fill a recently opened storage site.
A storage center on 16th Street holds the belongings of more than 400 people. It is operated by the nonprofit Think Dignity and was so in-demand that it had a waiting list for people to get in.
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In response, a similar storage facility opened near 20th and Commercial streets, which can accommodate up to 500 people. After being open for nearly a month 127 bins have been claimed there. A city of San Diego spokesman previously told KPBS a gradual increase of clients there will ensure the long-term success of the storage center.
Despite that, the San Diego City Council is debating whether to add more transitional storage sites. Council members have been working to come up with possible locations.
Among them are downtown's Golden Hall and the former Charger's practice facility on Murphy Canyon Road. Both properties are city-owned.
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer's spokesman said the mayor is supportive of additional storage opportunities.
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"Every bin in use contains personal belongings that would otherwise be on our streets or in our canyons ... The storage center is giving homeless folks the freedom to get back on their feet," he said.
The 20th Street storage facility is costing the city and San Diego Housing Commission $1.4 million to keep open for a year.
