The City of San Diego is unveiling an expansion of the Safe Sleeping Program to better serve its homeless population and provide more shelter options for those in need. According to the City of San Diego, 180 tent spaces will be added at the O Lot site and another 50 at the 20th & B locations. This expansion will increase the total capacity to approximately 760 tents, offering individuals and couples a safer environment equipped with cots, meals, and supportive services.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria emphasized the program's success in reaching those who are usually resistant to abandoning street encampments. He told the City of San Diego, “Safe Sleeping has proved to be a popular option for people who were once resistant to leaving street encampments, which are unsanitary and dangerous for those living in them and also harmful to the community.” The program provides tangible shelter and access to transportation, housing navigation, and the ability to stay with one's pets.
Initiated in June 2023 by Mayor Gloria and Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, the Safe Sleeping Program responds to the growing issue of unsafe street encampments. Councilmember Whitburn affirms the program's benefits, stated by the City of San Diego, “Safe Sleeping sites have reduced street homelessness because they are a safer, healthier, more desirable alternative to living on the sidewalk.” The program also aims to facilitate a smoother transition into more permanent housing arrangements for participants.
Nonprofit Dreams for Change and the Downtown San Diego Partnership have been significant players in managing these sites, contributing to the connectivity of 118 participants to housing this year alone. Sarah Jarman, Director of the City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department, acknowledged their importance, stated by the City of San Diego, “These sites are a lifeline to some who have been living on the streets for years and want a low-barrier option to begin the process to end their homelessness.” This expansion follows the City Council's decision earlier this month to ramp up the program by nearly 50%.
With a marked improvement in housing placement rates, the Safe Sleeping program's extension is part of a larger strategy, which saw a 24% increase from the previous fiscal year, successfully securing housing for 1,677 people in fiscal year 2024. As Safe Sleeping continues to address street homelessness by providing immediate, low-barrier shelters, the City of San Diego moves forward in tackling one of its most enduring social challenges.
