A coalition of four San Diego City Councilmembers is advocating for critical funding to extend the ramp-down period for a Midway homeless shelter, aiming to prevent residents from being displaced onto the streets.
Council President Joe LaCava, alongside Councilmembers Henry Foster, Kent Lee, and Sean Elo-Rivera, is jointly pushing for a plan that seeks to give more time for the 150-bed shelter that faces imminent closure in the coming weeks.
The shelter’s future remained uncertain following Mayor Todd Gloria’s budget proposal, which did not allocate nearly $5 million necessary for its operation. This decision is part of the mayor’s broader strategy to address a significant $258 million deficit.
Mayor Gloria contends that the county, which owns the land housing the shelter and provides essential behavioral health care, should take the lead in fully funding the operations. The mayor has indicated that the planned demolition of a nearby building, set to begin in March, would pose challenges for continuing the shelter’s services once construction starts.
Despite these concerns, county officials argue that operations can maintain continuity during the demolition process, and they have pledged $800,000 to help mitigate costs associated with the project. However, additional commitments to cover ongoing shelter expenses remain elusive, leaving the shelter’s fate in jeopardy.
In a worrying development over the past two weeks, the Housing Commission, which oversees shelter provider Alpha Project, has ceased admitting new residents to several city shelters and the two safe sleeping sites. This action is part of preparations for the potential closure, with a commitment to ensuring that the current residents of the Midway shelter—many of whom face physical and behavioral health challenges—are transitioned to other shelters or housing options.
However, Lisa Jones, CEO of the Housing Commission, expressed deep concerns in a memo to the City Council. She noted that without identified funding for ramp-down operations in Fiscal Year 2026, there is a substantial risk that residents could end up unsheltered.
“Although every effort will be made to prevent clients impacted by the shelter closure from exiting the program to unsheltered homelessness, if funding is not identified… there is a significant likelihood that this unfortunate outcome could occur,” Jones wrote, advocating for a budget allotment of $500,000 for a responsible, 60-day ramp-down period extending through August 2025.
The goal is to facilitate efforts to transition clients to alternative shelter or safe sleeping spaces.
Without this funding, the shelter is at risk of shutting down as early as next month.
Councilmembers Elo-Rivera, Foster, LaCava, and Lee have all expressed their support for the Housing Commission’s funding request in a memo to the Independent Budget Analyst’s Office.
In statements to Voice of San Diego, they emphasized the urgent need for action. “This population must be protected and not forced back onto the street,” stated Council President Joe LaCava. He noted the critical need to stay prepared when a temporary shelter is about to close to prevent further escalation of the homelessness crisis.
Foster, also chair of the City Council’s budget committee, echoed this necessity: “I feel identifying the needed funding to properly wind down operations at the (Midway) shelter is the right thing to do. We must ensure a responsible and considerate transition for the people staying there and for the workers who assist them every day.”
Lee added that his office is actively seeking assistance from independent budget analysts to uncover funds that would support a humane wind-down of operations should the shelter’s closure move forward, minimizing the repercussions for residents and workers alike.
Elo-Rivera similarly highlighted the critical importance of securing funding to support both residents and staff at the shelter.
There appears to be at least a couple of supportive voices within the City Council. Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, representing the Midway area, has consistently raised the possibility of the shelter’s temporary extension until the planned demolition. Meanwhile, Councilmember Stephen Whitburn has repeatedly underscored the need for enhanced shelter options for homeless individuals.
For any adjustments to the budget to allocate funding for the Midway shelter, at least six of the nine City Council members must lend their support.
The Independent Budget Analyst’s Office is anticipated to publish memos detailing proposed budget changes on June 3, with a City Council vote scheduled for June 10.
image source from：https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/05/24/four-san-diego-councilmembers-want-to-buy-time-for-midway-shelter/
