Four San Diego Councilmembers Propose Funding to Extend Midway Shelter Operations

Four San Diego City Councilmembers are advocating for additional funding to provide more time for the Midway homeless shelter to remain open, preventing residents from being displaced onto the streets. Council President Joe LaCava and Councilmembers Henry Foster, Kent Lee, and Sean Elo-Rivera have proposed allocating resources to ensure a gradual transition for the 150-bed shelter, which faces closure due to financial constraints.

The shelter’s future has been in question since Mayor Todd Gloria excluded nearly $5 million in funding from his budget proposal, as he worked to address a $258 million deficit. Gloria has argued that the county, which owns the land and provides behavioral health care at the site, should fully fund the shelter. He also pointed out that a planned demolition of a neighboring building would make the project untenable once construction begins in March 2025. County officials have committed $800,000 to address costs related to the demolition but have not agreed to cover additional shelter expenses.

In recent weeks, the Housing Commission, which oversees the shelter provider Alpha Project, has paused accepting new residents at several city shelters and safe sleeping sites to prepare for the potential closure. This move aims to ensure that Midway shelter residents, many of whom have physical and behavioral health conditions, can transition to other shelters or housing. However, Housing Commission CEO Lisa Jones expressed concern in a May 20 memo that without additional funding, residents could be forced onto the streets.

Jones urged the City Council to allocate $500,000 to support a 60-day ramp-down period through August 2025, allowing residents to move to alternative accommodations. She warned that without this funding, the shelter could close as early as next month, leading to an increase in unsheltered homelessness.

The councilmembers have endorsed the Housing Commission’s proposal in a memo to the Independent Budget Analyst’s Office. In separate statements, they affirmed their support for the request, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable individuals from being displaced. Council President LaCava stated, “This population must be protected and not forced back onto the street.” The councilmembers’ efforts reflect a growing concern for the well-being of those experiencing homelessness and the need for compassionate, strategic solutions.

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