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Thank You for Making the 2023 RTFH Conference on Homelessness a Success!

Recapping the 2023 RTFH Conference on Homelessness

Click here for photos, breakout session slideshows and more from our two-day conference.

New Reports to Better Understand Entries to and Exits from Homelessness

To provide the San Diego region with a better understanding of the homelessness crisis, the RTFH has begun publishing a new report that highlights how many people enter and exit homelessness each month throughout San Diego County.

RTFH’s data team has compiled this first-of-its-kind monthly data report with the help of homeless service providers from across the region. This initial release of data is broken down over the past 12 months. Moving forward, RTFH will update these statistics each month. On average, over the last 12 months, 10 people found housing for every 16 people who experienced homelessness for the first time.

Please click on the button below to view the most recent report, or you can find past monthly reports on this page of the website .

Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in San Diego

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness unveiled its first-ever  Regional Community Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in San Diego ( aka the “Regional Plan” )  through a housing-focused, equity-driven, and person-centered system of care.  The new plan sets forth a shared vision, identifies system and resource gaps, and promotes evidence-based approaches with the goal of ending homelessness in the next five years in our region. This “Plan of Plans” incorporates federal, state and local plans to streamline the San Diego region’s needs and create implementable solutions.

Continuum of Care San Diego City and County Action Plan: Addressing Homelessness Among Black San Diegans

This document represents the hard work that members of the Ad Hoc Committee to Address Homelessness Among Black San Diegans have invested over the last year to fully understand the racial disparities that impact our homelessness system.

Effective Messaging Strategies for Housing as a Solution to Homelessness

Compared to many other US cities that implemented successful evidence-based interventions to homelessness, the concept of adopting “Housing First” models has been comparatively less well received in the San Diego region despite the foundational role it plays in the region’s homeless service system. Over the past year, Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego (FTEHSD) led a multi-faceted research campaign to determine which messaging is most effective in ensuring that San Diegans consider housing as a solution to homelessness. Read more about this campaign and its findings below.

Statement on Racial Inequality and Action

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness stands in solidarity with our member organizations and community members in condemning the violence and injustice perpetrated against Black Americans.

Homelessness disproportionately affects people of color in the San Diego region and reflects the economic and racial divides that persist in this country. The RTFH is committed to addressing racial inequality and amplifying the perspectives of people of color with lived experience in our work, communication, and organizational decision-making.

RTFH SNOFO Awardees FINAL – 4/9/2024

RTFH SNOFO Award Memo FINAL – 4/9/2024

HHAP 5 Submitted Application 3/26/24

View All Documents >

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HSI San Diego welcomes California DOJ to multiagency task force to target fentanyl trafficking

SAN DIEGO — On Oct. 18, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) welcomed the California Department of Justice as the newest partner to the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST). The HSI-led task force targets fentanyl trafficked through the southern border and into San Diego County.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta made the announcement at a fentanyl roundtable he co-hosted with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas. The roundtable brought together local, state and federal leaders to discuss and collaborate on California’s efforts to end the fentanyl crisis. Bonta shared the California Department of Justice’s strategy to address the multifaceted crisis by collaborating on enforcement operations and seizures with law enforcement partners statewide, bringing billions of dollars for recovery services into the state by holding the opioid industry accountable and developing and implementing effective public policy solutions with legislative partners.

Fentanyl is a powerful and potentially addictive synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. A small amount of fentanyl — just 2 milligrams — can result in overdose and death. Fentanyl comes in different forms, including pills, powder and liquid, and is produced legally through the pharmaceutical market and illegally through the illicit drug market. Officials have found illicit fentanyl in many drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, counterfeit pills and cocaine. Fentanyl mixed with any drug increases the likelihood of a fatal overdose. Illicit fentanyl has also reportedly been produced in rainbow colors, potentially aimed at increasing consumption, especially among young adults.

In California, 5,502 people died due to opioid overdose and 3,946 died due to fentanyl overdose in 2020 alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation has experienced the overdose epidemic in three distinct but interconnected waves : An increase in deaths from prescription opioid overdoses since the 1990s; an increase in heroin deaths starting in 2010; and a more recent surge in deaths from other illicit opioids, such as fentanyl.

“California is all-in when it comes to addressing fentanyl and protecting the safety of our communities,” said Bonta. “Fentanyl is a threat to our communities as it is cheap, potent and very lethal. Fentanyl can be disguised in common drugs, and just a small amount is enough to potentially kill a user. We urge Californians — especially our youth — to steer clear of this lethal drug. We will continue working with law enforcement partners to address this crisis. I am proud today to announce our newest partnership as we join FAST, and confident that our investigative resources and legal support will help stop the flow of fentanyl into our state and keep it out of our communities.”

“This is a problem that demands a unified response from all segments of our society — government, healthcare, law enforcement and the community. Today, we are standing united to stop the misery that fentanyl is causing in San Diego and across California,” said Gloria. “In San Diego, we are sending the message to dealers that preying on our children, our families and people experiencing homelessness will not be tolerated — and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Attorney General Bonta for adding two prosecutors to the Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team, known as FAST,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Tara McGrath. “FAST was formed one year ago and is already a model across the country. During its inaugural year, FAST led or supported more than 70 law enforcement operations resulting in the arrest of 53 fentanyl smugglers, distributors and dealers in San Diego County. Collaboration with partners like AG Bonta is a critical force multiplier in our fight against fentanyl.”

Bonta is addressing the fentanyl challenge through an all-in, multifaceted approach using ongoing enforcement, litigation and effective public policy strategies for prevention. The California Department of Justice works with law enforcement partners to take fentanyl out of communities and hold poison peddlers accountable. Since April 2022, the California Department of Justice has seized approximately 9,348,852 fentanyl pills and 1,213 pounds of powder. It has also made over 200 arrests. This includes a Placer County arrest leading to the first-in-the-state homicide conviction against a fentanyl dealer for providing a lethal dose leading to the death of a 15-year-old girl. In addition to this work, Bonta continues advancing effective public policy and working with national partners to hold the opioid industry accountable for its role in creating the opioid crisis and its impacts. To date, the California Department of Justice has secured over $32 billion through nationwide settlements, including $2 billion for California, bringing needed funding back to communities for treatment and prevention strategies.

By parting with HSI’s FAST, the California Department of Justice is committed to focusing on the flow of fentanyl from the California-Mexico border. HSI’s FAST is a multiagency task force, first established in August 2022 and focused on the disruption and dismantlement of criminal organizations that smuggle and distribute fentanyl within San Diego County. HSI’s FAST targets fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks to counter the rising overdose rate and decrease the availability and accessibility of fentanyl. San Diego County has experienced a 700% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths since 2016, linked to fentanyl — counterfeit pills and powder — being smuggled from Mexico into the United States. This multiagency task force uses traditional and advanced investigative techniques to target the individuals and criminal organizations involved in fentanyl smuggling and distribution. The California Department of Justice joins HSI San Diego, with full time partnership from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations (CBP OFO), Enforcement and Removal Operations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the DEA, the FBI, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the IRS, the San Diego U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Escondido Police Department, and CBP’s Border Patrol.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

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SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® is a collaborative program of the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the San Diego Police Foundation. It is designed to help kids, parents, educators, and concerned adults learn how to keep kids safe online.

With each passing year, the seriousness of internet crimes involving children and teens continues to grow. In 2008, the San Diego Police Foundation in cooperation with the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force responded by launching the SafetyNet® Program. Our focus is to help kids, parents, educators, and other concerned citizens learn to navigate their online lives safely BEFORE tragedy strikes. Since 2008, we have brought the SafetyNet® program to more than 230,000 students, ranging from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade, and to over 18,000 parents in the San Diego area, as well as other parts of Southern California.

The San Diego Police Foundation. Every Dime Fights Crime.

With the help of our donors and supporters, The San Diego Police Foundation promotes a safer San Diego online and on the streets. As part of this effort, the SDPF continues to expand the SafetyNet® program.

Formed in 1998, the SDPF helps insure that programs critical to public safety receive funding that is not available through the city’s budget. Whether it’s an evidence management system, advanced video streaming and recording, or other life-saving equipment and training, the SDPF raises much-needed funds to support the men and women of the San Diego Police Department.

The San Diego Police Foundation is an independent 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization providing support for public safety through grant funding for specialized equipment, training, and cooperative community programs.

The San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children (SDICAC) Task Force is a collaboration of local, state and federal agencies who investigate offenders using the Internet, online communication systems, or other computer technology to sexually exploit children. The SDICAC supports efforts to identify, arrest, and prosecute online sexual predators, as well as educate the public about potential risks and safety measures. There are currently 61 regional Task Force agencies which are funded by the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

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Seven Charged in Theft of California Benefits for Low-Income Families

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 4, 2024

SAN DIEGO – Seven people were arrested and charged this week in connection with the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in public-assistance benefits from low-income families that need the funds to pay for food, housing and other necessities.

The defendants were taken into custody by a U.S. Secret Service-led task force as part of a three-day effort to crack down on this devastating and growing fraud in which California benefits are drained from recipients’ accounts almost immediately after the funds are dispersed by the state, typically early in the month. A simultaneous operation netted three arrests in the Northern District of California.

Marian Dogaru, Catalan Craciun, Vasile Ionita, Andrei Cristian Geangasau, Domitru Ducila Unguru, Roberto Calin and Razvan Iulian Gaspar are charged with stealing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account information and making fraudulent cash withdrawals at ATMs using that stolen EBT information.

According to the complaints, between June 2022 and February 2024, over $181 million has been stolen from EBT beneficiaries in California. Most of these stolen funds have come from unauthorized ATM withdrawals.  The complaints also allege that victims of the scheme are largely low-income families who depend on EBT benefits to buy food and other household necessities.

“EBT fraud literally takes food out of the mouths of children,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Parents who don’t know they’ve been targeted get to the grocery checkout and discover their EBT cards have been wiped clean.  We are taking proactive steps to prevent this appalling crime and punish those who take advantage of vulnerable people.”

“EBT fraud continues to be an issue in California and throughout the nation,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Peck, U.S. Secret Service Office of Investigations. “The U.S. Secret Service will continue to investigate and arrest those responsible for EBT fraud as we seek to disrupt their networks and protect our most vulnerable communities.”

According to charging documents, here’s how the fraud works:

The Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally funded assistance program designed to help low-income individuals and families purchase food. In California, SNAP public assistance benefits are distributed through CalFresh and loaded to an account that a qualified recipient can access by means of an access card, similar to a debit or credit card, called the California Advantage Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card.

The Department of Health and Human Services administers the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, which provides states with money to support low-income families with children. In California, TANF grant funds are used to operate CalWORKS.  Families that apply and qualify for ongoing CalWORKS assistance receive money each month to help pay for housing, food, and other necessary expenses.  Like CalFresh, CalWORKS benefits are distributed through the California Advantage EBT card.

To access these benefits, recipient swipe their card through a point-of-sale terminal, or insert it into an ATM, and provide their Personal Identification Number (PIN). 

According to the complaints, the U.S. Secret Service has gathered evidence indicating members of what appear to be one or more criminal enterprises are stealing California EBT account information by installing skimmers on point-of-sale terminals and inside ATMs, often in communities with higher concentrations of public benefit recipients. The skimmed data is then often re-encoded onto the magnetic strips of cards that members of the conspiracy use to make unauthorized withdrawals and purchases.

These re-encoded cards are sometimes referred to as “cloned” cards. Cloned cards can be a blank white plastic card, or another debit, credit, or gift card. Cloned cards may have names or numbers embossed on the physical face of the card. A common feature of cloned cards is that the account number encoded on the card’s magnetic strip will not match the number embossed on the card’s face. To facilitate the use of the stolen EBT benefits, members of the scheme will commonly put stickers bearing the account’s PIN on the physical cards, or access devices, that are swiped at a point-of-sale terminal, along with the account balance.

U.S. Attorney McGrath thanked the many law enforcement partners whose work and dedication made this operation a success: The U.S. Secret Service, California Highway Patrol, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Oceanside Police Department, California Department of Social Services, Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego District Attorney’s Office, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. 

If you or someone you know has had your EBT benefits stolen, San Diego County’s Department of Health & Human Services Agency requires that the theft be reported within 10 days.  More information for San Diego County victims is available at:

https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/ssp/ebt_fraud.html .  

DEFENDANT                                    Case Number                         Age                Hometown                

Marian Dogaru                                    24MJ1315                               38                        Barlad City, Romania

Catalan Craciun                                  24MJ1234                               36                        Barlad, Romania

Vasile Ionita                                       24 MJ1289                              22                        Bucharest, Romania

Andrei Cristian Geangasau                 24 MJ1289                              23                        Bucharest, Romania

Domitru Ducila Unguru                      24MJ1298                               20                        Craiova, Romania

Roberto Calin                                     24MJ1298                               19                        Rome, Italy

Razvan Iulian Gaspar                         24MJ1345                               33                        Targu Mures City,                                                                                                                                          Romania

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Use of Unauthorized Access Devices – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1029(a)(2) (All Defendants)

Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine

Possession of Access Device-Making Equipment – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1029(a)(4) (Dogaru, Ionita, Geangasu, Unguru, Calin, Gaspar)

Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

U.S. Secret Service’s Southern California Cyber Fraud Task Force

San Diego District Attorney’s Office

California Highway Patrol

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General

California Department of Social Services

San Diego Police Department

San Diego Sheriff’s Department

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General

Homeland Security Investigations

Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office

United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California

United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California

 *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

Media Relations Director Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726 or [email protected]

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The District Attorney’s Student Safety in School Systems Task Force is committed to ensuring all of San Diego’s youth have a safe and nurturing educational environment, free of sexual and physical abuse. The District Attorney’s Office recognizes that there are gaps between the multiple agencies and systems that are currently addressing abuse. We aim to eliminate those inefficiencies and close those gaps so our students and youth can thrive. We invite the public to use this site to directly contact our experienced prosecutors and trained investigators if there is a concern of abuse within our school systems. Every submission will receive attention and every allegation will be addressed.

This Task Force will not be a mechanism by which a mandated reporter may report suspected abuse, but the Task Force will work to make sure that mandated reporters are complying with their legal obligations to report acts of physical and sexual abuse against minors.

The District Attorney’s Student Safety in School Systems Task Force will:

• Welcome and receive submissions from any member of the public who is concerned about the safety of students in a school system;
• Facilitate any member of the public who is navigating the multiple agencies and departments when an incident involving a child has occurred in a school setting;
• Reduce the public’s confusion by giving them direct access to the District Attorney’s Office so allegations and complaints can be tracked;
• Cross-reference allegations and complaints with law enforcement, Child Welfare Services, and educational institutions and programs where appropriate;
• Refer members of the public to services that may be available to those experiencing trauma as a result of an incident that has taken place within a school system;
• Offer and provide outreach and training to the public on issues and concerns surrounding possible physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by an adult or minor on a student in an educational setting;
• Criminally prosecute those who fail to comply with mandated reporting laws where the evidence of such failure is sufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions :

• Work with schools, parents, law enforcement, and students to ensure children in educational institutions remain safe from physical and sexual abuse.
• Receive submissions from any concerned community member and assess concerns regarding possible child abuse in school systems.
• Evaluate and analyze perceived failures in our schools’ systems regarding mandatory reporting.
• Identify gaps and confusion regarding mandatory reporting of child abuse within our educational institutions.
• Work to hold appropriate individuals accountable if they fail to make mandatory reports where there is a reasonable suspicion abuse of a child has occurred and where there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Facilitate training of students, families, school employees, and law enforcement.
• Sexual abuse of a minor by a student or school employee that occurs in a school setting.
• Sexual abuse of a minor by a school employee that occurs outside of a school setting.
• Physical abuse of a minor by a student that occurs in a school setting.
• Physical abuse of a minor by a school employee that occurs outside of a school setting.
• Failure (or suspected failure) by mandated reporter to make a report.
• Any active emergency- CALL 911 FIRST- and then you may submit an inquiry for follow-up.
• Any civil dispute or disagreements with teachers or school administration.
• Conflicts with teachers or staff that school administration is actively addressing.
• The District Attorney’s Task Force members will evaluate and investigate the claim.
• Law enforcement will be notified to investigate allegations when appropriate.
• Families will be connected with trauma-informed resources and support.
• An investigation into whether a mandatory report was made may be initiated.
• Click here for more information about mandated reporting.
• Click here for a clickable map that can help you find your local law enforcement agency website.

Make a submission to the Task Force

• Click here to start the process.
• Then simply follow the screen-by-screen instructions, filling out the form as completely as possible.
• Once you complete a submission, you will be given a tracking number for your records. With that number, you will be able to follow-up at any time to see what action has been taken by the Task Force. The Task Force can be contacted directly at [email protected]

The Task Force will review and respond to all submissions. The submissions of abuse or misconduct will be referred by the Task Force to the proper investigative authorities if that has not already occurred. In rare circumstances, the District Attorney’s Office itself may initiate investigations where it is appropriate—such as with investigations of failures to comply with mandated reporting laws.

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Special Units and Task Forces

Harbor Police Special Units and Task Forces

There are several specialized units and task forces within the Harbor Police Department which enhance the Department's role of being a provider of public safety. Some of these are extremely specialized with duties that extend beyond the Port's jurisdiction.

Investigations and Intelligence Unit

The Investigations and Intelligence Unit is composed of detectives who conduct follow-up investigations on arrests and crime reports. Detectives gather criminal intelligence, obtain search and arrest warrants and work closely with the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, as well as member cities' attorney's offices. This department is also responsible for conducting background investigations on potential Port employees and police recruits.

Homeland Security Unit, Harbor Police Training Unit and Force Training Unit

After the events of September 11, 2001, the Harbor Police implemented a Homeland Security Unit. This unit abides by the readiness and general security issues related to the Maritime Transportation Security Act. This unit works with other regional law enforcement and military partners to ensure that if there were an act of terrorism in San Diego Bay, sensitive locations would be kept safe and commerce would continue to flow. This unit also manages grant funding obtained through the Department of Homeland Security.

Harbor Police Training Unit

This unit coordinates all training between the Harbor Police Department and outside agencies and ensures that all officers receive the most advanced and cutting-edge training available.

Force Training Unit

The Force Training Unit oversees weapons training and firearms instruction, detective tactics and taser training. Each of these specialized sections are incorporated into Integrated Force Training, which educates officers in critical decision making and tactics.

Bay Control Officer and Mobile Field Force

The Bay Control Officer manages all issues related to abandoned boats, sunken vessels, navigational hazards, impounding and storage of vessels and maritime-related crimes. This officer works closely with local, state and federal agencies and also communicates with the public, the media and Port tenants.

Mobile Field Force

The Harbor Police Department has a mobile field force which allows the department to assist other agencies in the region during an emergency or civil unrest event. Officers within this unit receive special training and equipment which allows them to be ready for any emergency situation. The Mobile Field Force may be activated by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department when a county-wide response is required.

Specialized Task Forces and Department Operations

Narcotics task force.

The Harbor Police Department is a member of the Regional Narcotics Task Force. This task force's mission is to intercept narcotics and money being smuggled through the region's transit centers. Officers within this task force are federally sworn, giving them state and federal law enforcement authority.

Marine Task Force

The Marine Task Force is a Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement-based task force. This task force works to combat human smuggling as well as counter drugs, guns and money being transported illegally across the United States and Mexican maritime border. Officers within this task force are also federally sworn.

Joint Terrorism Task Force

The Joint Terrorism Task Force is a Federal Bureau of Investigations-based and operated task force. This task force is responsible for conducting assessments, investigations and field interviews of potential and known terrorist threats within the San Diego region. Officers assigned to this task force are also cross-sworn as federal officers.

Terrorism Liaison Officer

A Terrorism Liaison Officer is any peace officer, firefighter, investigator, federal agent, military investigations personnel, or anyone working closely with the Homeland Security community who has been properly certified by the Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Center. These officers serve as a conduit of information between members of the public safety community, public/private sectors and the U.S. government in the fight against terrorism.

Operation Stonegarden

The Harbor Police Department partners with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers and other federal, state and local agencies in Operation Stonegarden. The purpose of this detail is to prevent smuggling along the San Diego County coastline. The various agencies work together to patrol all bays, waterways, beaches and corresponding U.S. Border areas in this effort. This is a federally grant-funded operation that has resulted in numerous successful interdictions of maritime human and narcotics smuggling.

The Harbor Police Department has a Chaplain Program to assist employees or individuals with coping during traumatic and stressful situations encountered while serving the community. This program provides critical and spiritual support at serious incidents. Harbor Police Chaplains are trained according to California Police Officer Standards and Training Program to supplement their religious education and experience.

The Harbor Police Communications Center is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dispatchers undergo state-mandated training, as well as additional in-house training that is specific to the role of the Harbor Police. Dispatchers respond to all types of law-enforcement calls, as well as fire emergencies, medical emergencies, environmental issues and maritime service requests.

In 2002, a Joint Harbor Operations Center was implemented. This center became a national and global model for communications. In the Center, Harbor Police dispatchers work closely with personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, California National Guard and Customs and Border Protection personnel. This system helps to facilitate information sharing and provides a timely response to potential incidents.

Harbor Police Reports

Harbor police faqs, harbor police, recreational boating.

San Diego mayor unveils plan for 1,000-bed mega-shelter for homeless near airport

The facility would double the size of existing shelter capacity in the city of san diego, by city news service • published april 4, 2024 • updated on april 4, 2024 at 7:29 pm.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced a plan Thursday to create San Diego's largest long-term shelter for people experiencing homelessness, with a capacity for more than 1,000 people.

"We have been acting with urgency to bring people into safety from encampments on our streets and sidewalks, rivers and canyons," Gloria said. "We now have a historic and monumental opportunity to get more than 1,000 people off the streets and connected with the services needed to end their homelessness.

"Substantially increasing our shelter capacity will have an immediate impact as we work on the other aspects of our comprehensive approach to ending homelessness, including prevention and the creation of affordable housing," he said.

Gloria's plan, if approved by the City Council, would convert a vacant 65,000-square foot warehouse located at the intersection of Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street north of downtown into a shelter. The site would provide on-site security, meals, housing navigation and case management services. Improvements will include adding showers and additional restrooms, a commercial kitchen, laundry facilities and dining and recreation areas, a statement from Gloria's office reads.

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NBC 7 has asked the mayor's office what the cost of the projected lease would be but has not yet received a reply.

Staff from the city's Economic Development and Homelessness Strategies and Solutions departments will present the shelter proposal to the City Council's Land Use and Housing Committee on April 18.

According to Gloria, the owner of the Kettner and Vine facility has agreed to lease the warehouse property for 35 years, with two five-year renewal options. The building improvements and shelter operations will be funded through a combination of local, state and federal funds, along with contributions from local donors.

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"The planned size and floorplan of the Kettner and Vine facility give the city flexibility to potentially serve multiple populations — including families, youth and single women or men," said Sarah Jarman, director of the city's Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department. "The long-term lease also enables the city to upgrade the facility based on the changing needs of unsheltered residents.

"This shelter would operate similarly to others, with the ultimate goal of connecting San Diegans experiencing homelessness to permanent housing," Jarman said.

If approved, Kettner and Vine will be the 11th new overnight facility serving people experiencing homelessness the city has opened since Gloria took office.

As a part of the announcement Thursday morning, Gloria also provided an update on the city's plan for the H Barracks site near the San Diego International Airport.

If the City Council approves the Kettner and Vine facility, Gloria said the city would then focus efforts at H Barracks primarily on expanding its Safe Parking Program for unhoused San Diegans who are temporarily residing in their vehicles.

"Additional safe parking is a need that's especially evident in the Peninsula area and other coastal communities, where numerous oversized vehicles park along streets in commercial and industrial areas," a statement from Gloria's office read.

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