Neighbors hold townhall meeting over proposed mega-shelter in Middletown
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Neighbors near a proposed “mega-shelter” in Middletown held a townhall to discuss their opinions on the City of San Diego’s proposed plan.
“We’re not here to be the enemies, we’re actually here to be partners in all of this, we want to work with the community,” said Patty Ducey-Brooks, a longtime Mission Hills resident.
One of the presenters at the townhall was Kevin Arnold, president of the San Diego Neighborhood Coalition and Little Italy resident.
“In your opinion, what do you think the city should be doing to get more people off the streets, off these encampments?” FOX 5/KUSI’s Alani Letang asked.
“First of all, I think the city needs to listen to the community. You need to have a plan. This is not a plan,” Arnold said.
The city is proposing a 65,000-square-foot shelter on Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street, which would have 1,000 beds, showers, restrooms, pet relief areas and play areas for children.
Mega San Diego homeless shelter proposal delayed
Mission Hills neighbor Ed Moore said everyone in one building “does not serve that community at all. I think you’re putting a wrecking ball through the lives of those 1,000 people.”
“But also because we are mixing a lot of different populations, we’re putting families along with people with mental health issues … It creates a toxic environment,” Ducey-Brooks added.
Ducey-Brooks said she suggests the funding for the shelter be used on programs that already are working for people experiencing homelessness.
FOX 5/KUSI talked with Kim Chow, who has been trying to find permanent housing for three months. Chow said the permanent housing program she was in, Valley Vista, recently kicked her out after three years. She said they told her she was no longer a good candidate.
“The best thing to do is to meet people together and let them learn what it means to be a nextdoor neighbor,” Chow said.
At the permanent facility, Chow said other residents would break windows and even kick in her door. She said instead of the proposed shelter, she would rather see more private permanent housing to avoid unwanted disruptions.
Proposed Middletown ‘mega-shelter’ gets pushback from community
“Who wants to live with that, like that? You can’t get no rejuvenation out of that, people setting examples like that,” Chow said.
The proposed shelter’s introduction came in April. Initially discussed, the city said the plan would cost around $30 million to operate, rent would be $1.9 million annually, and cost $18 million to get the building ready for people.
In a statement, Mayor Todd Gloria’s office wrote:
“San Diego has a homelessness crisis that demands the urgent and sustained response that Mayor Gloria is providing. San Diegans do not want our sidewalks overtaken by unsafe and unsanitary encampments.
The campus envisioned for the Kettner property will help unhoused people off the streets and connect them not only with safe shelter, but the services and assistance they need to permanently end their homelessness.
The data show our interventions are working — and their cost is far lower than leaving people to deteriorate mentally and physically on the streets.“
Francine Maxwell lives in Encanto and attended the townhall for a friend who lives in Hillcrest who could not show up. Maxwell said the proposed shelter needs more vetting.
“When you look at the shower capacity, I need people to be able to take a shower more,” Maxwell said. “I think that people need to be able to close their door and have their privacy, and if a case worker assigns them homework, they can close their door and do their homework.”
On Monday, May 13, City Council held a closed session to discuss updated lease terms for the shelter, including cheaper rent.
Neighbors want into those details.
“That’s the authentic lean, have more conversations, don’t be so quick to want to do something,” Maxwell said.
“We need to reevaluate the whole situation so we don’t create a more dire situation for the public right now,” Ducey-Brooks added.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
