San Diego County is one step closer to finishing a plan to address homelessness in the unincorporated areas.
Tuesday the Board of Supervisors was presented with 15 locations that could be used for the county's first homeless shelter and/or supportive housing.
Last month supervisors approved increasing the county's hotel and motel voucher program, which gives people a temporary place to stay. Officials said since then, 56 people have taken advantage of the program. Supervisor Dianne Jacob said the next step is transitional housing.
"It’s a step out of the hotel/motel into like we call it a bridge shelter — a place to stay until we can get them into affordable housing," Jacob said.
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The city of San Diego has invested millions in temporary tent shelters to house the homeless just in the last few years.
Jacob said the county is considering temporary shelters similar to ones used by the city of San Diego.
"All options on the table," she said.
County staff found 15 locations that could be developed. Six are in Spring Valley, two are in Lakeside and seven are in Fallbrook.
"I was a little bit frustrated that we had only had seven sites identified in Fallbrook — I asked for the entire District 5 to be looked at," said Supervisor Jim Desmond.
Desmond hopes properties can be found in other North County communities.
"I think everybody gets the need. Nobody wants it (homeless housing) next to them and that’s the challenge that we need to face," he said.
Jacob said that is something county staff are talking to residents about.
"We are working with them to make sure that the sites we identify are going to be good neighbors to the community and that’s key," she said.
Some of the possible shelter sites are owned by the county, some by the state and some privately. County staff plan to return to the board in 60 days with an update.
