Rescue Mission allowed to relocate

By SIMONE CARR

The Christmas season is particularly happy at the San Diego Rescue Mission (SDRM) this year. After months of negotiations, a settlement was signed on Dec. 9, allowing their relocation to the former Harbor View Medical Center at 120 Elm St., San Diego.

After selling their former property in the East Village, the SDRM was suddenly halted from settling in their new location by a group of businessmen and homeowners, concerned about having a homeless population in their neighborhood. The group eventually filed and won a lawsuit in July 2003.

The SDRM appealed the decision and negotiations started to settle the case. The issue involved 160 men who are permanent residents in the rehabilitation program and who would have been looking for a new place to stay if a settlement hadn’t been reached.

Jim Jackson Jr., President/CEO of the SDRM, accredited City Councilmember Michael Zucchet for helping the negotiations. Sharon Johnson, Homeless Services Coordinator for the City, was also instrumental in coordinating the preparation of a new ordinance.

The settlement allows the SDRM to run its rehabilitation programs for men and women in their new facilities. As part of the settlement talks, the Mission will have to discontinue its walk-in services for men that included showers, meals, and clothing. Homeless men would have to commit to the year-long program to receive such services at the site.

Among other provisions, SDRM is required to pay 60% of the salary for a 24/7 security patrolman for the area.

The restrictions don’t worry Keith Hammond. “We are confident that we will be able to continue our ministry regardless,” he said.

To start, the program will be able to have 200 long-term beds for men, 65 long-term beds for women and their children, and 60 emergency beds for women and their children. “As long as the neighborhood stays in decent shape, we will be able to expand,” Hammond explained.

“This is a great day for the City of San Diego,” added Jackson. “The men and women in our program, as well as the hundreds who will follow, will have a safe place to reclaim the lives that God intended for them to have. We look forward to working with our neighbors to provide homeless people the help they desperately need.