“I’ve been waiting all day to go,” a middle-aged woman sitting on the sidewalk in downtown San Diego said Monday afternoon, referring to a new temporary homeless camp in Golden Hill.
Some homeless people had their belongings packed for the Transitional Camp Area that opened Monday. They looked forward to its cleanliness and security.
But two women hoping that Alpha Project workers would take them to the camp were disappointed to still be on the sidewalk.
A man standing on 17th Street along with other homeless people also liked the idea of the new camp with tents, showers, restrooms, medical attention, meals, storage for their belongings and security.
“It looks pretty good,” he said. “It’s better than this. If they came and got me, me and my dog would go.”
A woman standing nearby said, “I want to go, but I have to see what is available. I think it’s a good deal. It would be good to have a place to set my things.”
News spread about the temporary camp on city-owned land at 20th and B Street, which was opened by the city of San Diego and operated by the nonprofit Alpha Project.
By midday Monday, more than 65 homeless individuals had moved into the camp, which San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer called a “safe and secure environment.” Women, children and seniors were the first to enter the camp, according to Bob McElroy, president and CEO of Alpha Project.
The camp promised a clean and sanitary place to stay as efforts to address the hepatitis A outbreak and construction of three temporary bridge shelters continue, city officials said. Alpha Project will continue to move people into the camp over the next several days, said the press release.
As individuals check in, they must register to be assigned a 13-by-13-foot campsite, with each space able to accommodate two tents and several people. In all, the camp has about 130 sites and will have the potential to accommodate a few hundred individuals, a city press release said.
The camp area will remain open until the three temporary bridge shelters are up and running in early winter. Those large industrial tent shelters will house about 750 homeless individuals in three locations — downtown, Barrio Logan and the Midway District.
But while some homeless were pleased to reserve a camp spot, others have reservations about going.
“I heard it’s a trap for all of those with outstanding warrants, even minor warrants, known drug felons,” said a homeless man on 17th Street. “They want to watch you. They want to see where the money goes. They may even set you up. You never know. That’s why I don’t want to go to this tent city or whatever it’s called.”
Another homeless man confirmed that the theory was spreading on the downtown streets.
A 63-year-old homeless man, Benny, gave this scenario:
“I’ve seen a guy. He’s a family man, has kids and a lady,” Benny said. “Do you think he would take his family up there if he has warrants on him?
“He’s a fool for going up there. And he’s been laying up on the street, eating good, going to Sister Winnie’s (now God’s Extended Hands Mission) and eating food every day. You think he’s going to do that?” the homeless man asked.
Our new Transitional Camp Area is giving homeless folks a clean, secure place to go. https://t.co/ivSk5Xa5YS pic.twitter.com/RKG7NrtuJC
— San Diego’s Mayor (@SDMayorsOffice) October 10, 2017
Police at the camp would arrest him, he insisted.
He also said that some homeless people dependent on drugs or alcohol would forgo the camp because they know that those habits are unwelcome.
Others interviewed said they were content to stay on the street and wanted to be independent.
When asked if he wanted to move to the camp, one man simply said, “No, thanks.”
A young woman who goes by “Freckles” said: “There’s people who need it more than I do. I’m strong. People stabbed at my campsite. It’s not as bad as one would think. I thought I’d be killed the first night, but I wasn’t.”
