FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, June 11, 2018

CONTACT: Greg Block at 619-227-3752 or gsblock@sandiego.gov

Storage Center to Help Homeless Individuals and Reduce Public Clutter Preparing to Open

‘STORAGE CONNECT CENTER’ WILL PROVIDE A PLACE FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO SECURELY STORE BELONGINGS, CLEARING NEIGHBORHOODS OF SHOPPING CARTS AND OTHER ITEMS

San Diego – The City’s new Storage Connect Center will open later this week as a place where homeless individuals can safely store their belongings while they access supportive services, look for housing, attend school, interview for a job or go to work.

The City will give a preview tour of the Storage Connect Center at 10 a.m. Tuesday ahead of its official opening. The 22,000 square-foot center, operated by Mental Health Systems, will provide up to 500 lockable storage bins.

Part of Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer’s comprehensive “Connect, Support, House” strategy to reduce homelessness in San Diego, the center helps eliminate a major barrier preventing some homeless individuals from accessing supportive services to help turn their lives around.

“Many homeless individuals have to choose between staying with their personal belongings and going to a doctor’s appointment or job interview,” Mayor Faulconer said. “This storage facility will change that by giving folks the opportunity to focus on improving their lives rather than worry about losing their possessions. Just as importantly this will help clear our neighborhoods and public spaces of shopping carts, tents and debris.”

The storage center also will help reduce clutter on streets and public areas, aiding the City’s efforts to improve the cleanliness of neighborhoods. In addition to providing storage opportunities for homeless individuals, the City and operator Mental Health Systems will take several proactive steps to ensure the facility is a good neighbor, including:

Limit storage capacity to 500 bins.

• Clients by referral only for first 90 days of operation.
• Creating a Neighborhood Advisory Committee to develop relationships and partnerships throughout the community to assist with addressing concerns or issues.
• Conducting homeless outreach to reduce homelessness in the surrounding community.
• Preventing queuing around the facility.
• Proactively removing litter, debris and graffiti on the premises.
• Prohibiting alcohol and drug use on site.
• Reporting criminal activity to law enforcement.
• Providing an enhanced level of police presence to address nuisance behavior and criminal activity as necessary.
• Increasing frequency of community cleanups in the area by the Environmental Services Department.