San Diego's old Central Library is set to close its doors as a women's homeless shelter on July 23 due to an expiring permit, leaving vulnerable women without a refuge for six months. As reported by the Times of San Diego, this temporary shutdown comes as a result of a 180-day permit limit within a 12-month period.
Mayor Todd Gloria stated that the facility would reopen after half a year with a renewed 180-day permit, a plan met with mixed reactions. Concerns about the conditions at the old library have been raised, including the lack of electricity, the dependence on a generator for power, and infestations of rats and other pests, as mentioned by CBS 8.
Opened in January 2023, the 36-bed temporary shelter was intended to provide safety for vulnerable women and facilitate access to housing. Since its operations began, the shelter has housed 105 women, with 77 of them being chronically homeless, according to city records cited by NBC San Diego. Notably, 49 women living in the shelter were at least 55 years old, 45 were women of color, and 40 were survivors of domestic violence.
While the closure is temporary, the need for a more sustainable long-term plan for addressing homelessness in San Diego has been highlighted. Mayor Gloria mentioned the possibility of transforming the old Central Library into a shelter and affordable housing — a proposal to be brought to the City Council this fall. According to a statement from Mayor Gloria's office, all current clients of the shelter will be transitioned into permanent homes or other shelters during the closure period, and the library may still be used for outreach work.
However, some critics argue that the city's efforts may be better directed toward investing in permanent housing solutions and comprehensive support services for the homeless population. The temporary closure of the old library women's shelter underscores the fragility of short-term solutions, leaving many wondering if the city's resources could be better allocated toward long-term strategies that provide more than 180 days of much-needed assistance to San Diego's vulnerable.
Additionally, the building's maintenance is a subject of concern. From the moment it closed as a library in 2013, the old Central Library fell into disrepair; records show that vandals dismantled the electrical panels, forcing the city to utilize a large generator to power the women's shelter. On-site security will remain at the property to ensure protection against vandals and potential damage during the six months it remains vacant.
As San Diego braces for the temporary loss of a valuable resource in its fight against homelessness, the city's leadership must weigh the merits of investing in temporary shelter permits versus long-term solutions. With a proposal for the property's future use set for discussion this fall, the city has the opportunity to chart a more sustainable path forward in addressing the issues faced by its most vulnerable residents.
