SAN DIEGO — The San Diego City Council voted 5-4 for the Unsafe Camping Ordinance on Tuesday night, passing the ordinance designed to reduce the amount of people living on our streets.
More than 200 people signed up to speak in front of the city council ahead of the vote.
The ordinance bans homeless encampments within two blocks of schools, some parks, near waterways and along trolley tracks. It would also make all camping on public property illegal when shelter options are available. The ordinance is expected to go into effect this summer.
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn introduced the ordinance and he says the city plans to open a safe camping site with more than 500 spaces next month. He says 42 rooms will open for families at a former motel in Barrio Logan.
Meanwhile, Joanne Standlee with Housing 4 the Homeless says the city will also be losing shelter space. And, the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness sent an opposition letter to city leaders, which said the city needs to drastically increase shelter beds. According to a new city report, 1,200 people seeking shelter were turned away last year due to a lack of beds.
Alliance San Diego held a news conference outside city hall on Tuesday morning, calling on council members to vote no.
"The proposal that is being put forward today to ban encampments is not a real solution," said Erin Tsurumoto Grassi, Policy Director of Alliance San Diego.
"Without shame, a city council that will not provide for its own children to have a place to live, the future! Shame on this city council, shame on this mayor. Do better, we expect more," said Ricardo Flores, Executive Director, of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) San Diego.
On Monday, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said the city’s plan doesn’t go far enough to solve the problem.
Faulconer said there are not enough shelter beds in the city to handle the spike in our homeless population and fears this ordinance will simply push unhoused individuals to other parts of the city, bringing with them crime, drugs, and trash.
Business owners said they want to see more bridge shelters like the one run by Alpha Project near Downtown San Diego. It offers beds and services for everyone, including those struggling with addiction.
“Unless you have an alternative, a place for people to go, then you're just criminalizing homelessness,” said Alpha Project CEO Bob McElroy. “ But if you have an option, get help or get in trouble, I've seen that motivation work hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times over again when people have gotten the help.”
The city says its plan includes adding hundreds of safe camping sites and dozens of hotel rooms and targets veterans, seniors, youth and families.
WATCH RELATED: San Diego City Council set to vote on homeless encampment ban