Search for Shelter Site Begins and Ends on Newton Avenue

Although the winter homeless shelter in Logan Heights was closed just a few months ago, the debate about where to place it this year is already heating up.

On April 27, councilmembers on the Land Use and Housing Commission debated the recommendations from San Diego's Housing Commission to place the shelter on a cul-de-sac in Barrio Logan, near the shelter's previous location on Newton Avenue.

Once again, the representative from Logan Heights opposes putting the shelter in the community.

Similar objections were heard last year, when former District 8 representative Ben Hueso claimed the shelter and its inhabitants posed a threat to students at nearby Perkins Elementary.

Now it is Barrio Logan's new representative, David Alvarez, who is opposing the Newton Avenue site.

"There seems to be some other potential locations available," said Alvarez.

Alvarez objected to the location despite reports of lower crime rate when the winter shelter was open.

"Basically, our calls for service during the five-month period when the winter shelter was open was about 95 radio calls less than last year," said San Diego Police Lieutenant Roy Moody. "Overall, crime rate was down."

As for the concerns regarding the shelters proximity to Perkins Elementary, Bob McElroy, president of the Alpha Project, said, "The greatest compliment that I've had in 25 years was when Principal [Fernando] Hernandez said that he would love to have us back. Pretty cool."

Councilmembers later moved the proposal on to the full city council, despite Alvarez' concerns.