Each year, the City Council is faced with the same, old debate — where to provide shelter and services to nearly 350 homeless individuals during the winter months. This year is no different. The East Village neighborhood has been host to one of two winter shelters, housing 200 adults in a temporary canvas tent for three years in a row. Once again, the San Diego Housing Commission has recommended the East Village neighborhood — on the 1300 block between F and G streets — to be the site of this year’s Emergency Winter Shelter Program. Some residents in the East Village neighborhood oppose the site, claiming that it is a terrible marquee to have set in their neighborhood and that they have done their fair share for the homeless population downtown. “We have a not-in-my-front-yard attitude,” said David Hazan, president of the East Village Homeowners Association, explaining that the proposed winter shelter would be located where 20,000 cars pass each day to exit and enter state Route 94. Year after year, the same debate over the location of temporary winter shelters for the homeless fuels a demand for the City Council to implement a long term solution — the creation of a permanent homeless shelter. “Homelessness is not a seasonal thing,” said Robin Munro, project director for Downtown San Diego Partnership’s Registry Week, the most extensive survey of the homeless ever conducted in San Diego. “I don’t think temporary shelter is the solution. I think permanent, supportive housing is the solution with some sort of package put together to help people get jobs and other benefits,” she said. Although she called the winter shelters a “necessary evil” for now, Munro urges the city and county to push forward with a permanent solution. On Oct. 5, the City Council voted to approve a proposed Exclusive Negotiations Agreement with Connections Housing L.P. to rehabilitate the San Diego World Trade Center (SDWTC) building into a permanent homeless service center and housing facility. The council further approved exclusive negotiations with the city of San Diego for site control of the SDWTC and acquisition of its adjacent parking structure for future development of the facility. Connections Housing L.P., a limited partnership developer with People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), will work with the city in an estimated $31 million project to convert the SDWTC, located at 1250 Sixth Ave., into a one-stop service homeless center, complete with a medical clinic, job training, 150 interim housing beds and 75 permanent supportive housing units. The council held a special Redevelopment Agency meeting Tuesday afternoon, took public testimony, heard from the agency and voted 8-0 in favor of the proposal. Few people disagree that there is a need for a permanent shelter in San Diego. The dividing point is, again, over its location. Business owners, residents and council members do not want the shelter in their district out of fear that it will denigrate the image of their neighborhood and business environment. Adding to concerns from local business owners in the area about how the homeless shelter may affect their businesses, is the fact the World Trade Center building also sits across from KinderCare Learning Center, a child day care program, which may make parents wary as well. Supporters of the plan hope to have the homeless service center running by 2012. Registry Week results More than 240 volunteer community members and civic leaders surveyed 738 homeless individuals in 450 blocks of downtown during the week of Sept. 14 to 24 to identify the most vulnerable homeless individuals sleeping in the streets. Here is what they found: Health: 275 (37%) were found to have health conditions associated with a high mortality risk. 218 (30%) reported a dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse 245 (33%) reported a history of substance abuse alone 95 (13%) reported signs or symptoms of mental illness alone 558 (76%) reported at least one behavioral health issue Age: 187 (25%) were over 55 years old; the oldest respondent was 85 years old 34 (5%) were under 25 years old; the youngest respondent was 15 years old The average age of the vulnerable population is 45 The average age of the non-vulnerable population is 52 Veterans: 183 (25%) were veterans 132 (72% of veterans) reported being honorably discharged Years homeless: The average years homeless for the vulnerable population is eight years The average years homeless for the non-vulnerable population is four years 150 (20%) reported being homeless for one year or less Potential health- related cost reductions: Inpatient hospitalization and ER visit costs totaled more than $25 million annually for 134 people, approximately $186,000 per person Permanent supportive housing costs approximately $23,000 per person There is potentially a $12 million cost reduction if 134 people were housed For a complete listing of Registry Week results, visit www.sdcleanandsafe.org.