Seasonal Shelter for Single Adults to Close Sunday
Extended Time Frame Helps Some in Transition, Leaves Other Still Short

   San Diego —The second of three Seasonal Shelter sites will close its doors Sunday, 4/16, at 8 a.m., ending a four-month respite from the elements for scores of homeless adults who have lived in the tent-like "Sprung Structure" since Dec.15.

   Publicly funded and run by local agencies, all three Seasonal Shelters stayed open an extra month this year, with the St. Vincent’s-managed Family shelter receiving an additional 30-day extension through May 15. However, on Sunday over 100 people will leave the adult shelter at 16th & Newton Avenue, also run by St. Vincent’s.

   "We certainly don’t like to turn people out," says Tony Sterzinger, who supervised the 250-bed shelter for St. Vincent’s. "But there’s no other option at this point. We did manage to place quite a few people in more stable transitional housing, either with St. Vincent de Paul Village or other agencies." [**Note: Three of these individuals will be available for interviews Sunday from 8 – 10 a.m.]

   This year has, unfortunately, been the busiest thus far. Notable statistics include;

• A total of 1764 individuals received shelter – 1415 men and 349 women;
• The average client was 42 years old, had spent 17 days on the street prior
  to entering the shelter, had 11.8 years of school, and cited "financial issues" or "job loss" as primary causes of their homelessness;
• The shelter provided an average of 2 weeks, 3 days of service to each client, for a total of 29,864 bed-nights over the course of the program.
• While 8% of the clients were newcomers to the area (less than one month), nearly 65% had lived in San Diego for three or more years.

For more information on St. Vincent’s shelter efforts, please call 619-687-1061.

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* EDITOR’S NOTE – Full statistics will be available on Sunday. In the event of rain, the tent may remain open for an additional evening or St. Vincent’s will provide alternate shelter.