Last month, Mayor Gloria participated in a press conference alongside Councilmember Stephen Whitburn to announce his support for Councilmember Whitburn`s proposed Unsafe Camping Ordinance.
As proposed, the ordinance will make amendments and additions to the San Diego Municipal Code to prohibit tent encampments at locations considered to be high risk of public health and safety, including:
- within two blocks of K-12 schools
- within two blocks of a homeless shelter
- along trolly tracks and transportation hubs
- certain parks like Balboa Park, Presidio Park, Mission Bay Park and shoreline parks
- canyons
- and waterways like the San Diego River.
The proposed ordinance will be presented to City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee next Thursday, April 13 at 1:00pm. The agenda will be posted here. As someone who has shared concerns about homelessness and tent encampments in the City, we encourage providing public comment at
the hearing by either tuning in virtually or in person in Council Chambers (202 C Street (12th floor), San Diego, CA 92101).
It`s important to note the City has been using every tool and resource currently at its disposal to address and prevent homelessness through the expansion of homeless shelter capacity, street outreach, Safe Parking programs, and the creation of more permanent/long-term housing opportunities. This ordinance is only one piece of our continued efforts to address homelessness.
In addition to the proposed Unsafe Camping Ordinance, the Mayor is working with Councilmember Whitburn`s office to establish a Safe Sleeping Program “ sanctioned sites where people living in tents can go. While enforcement is necessary to protect public health and safety, the Mayor recognizes it`s important to provide a location for individuals to safely camp while they are being connected to supportive services, resources, and permanent housing options.