Back to Streets, Drawing Board : San Diego: Council establishes a task force on the homeless but stops short of declaring the shortage of shelter space a crisis.

In a quandary over how to resolve one of the city’s most vexing problems, the San Diego City Council on Monday established a task force on homelessness but stopped short of declaring a crisis to expedite creation of additional shelters.

Facing strong opposition from communities envisioned as potential homeless shelter sites, the council deferred action on that thorny question until at least late September, when the task force’s recommendations are expected.

Monday’s 5-1 vote was a setback for Councilman John Hartley, who has proposed that the city declare a crisis because it has shelter beds for only about one-fifth of its estimated 7,000 homeless.

A crisis declaration would ease zoning roadblocks to homeless shelters and would focus additional public attention on the problem.

Though sympathetic to Hartley’s goals, several council members questioned whether declaring a crisis would do anything beyond attracting headlines, warning that it could harden opposition to the shelters.

“There is the rhetoric here and there is reality,” Councilman Tom Behr said. Until the council identifies shelter sites, ways to finance them and gains additional public acceptance, Behr added, declaration of a shelter crisis “would be a hollow victory.”

“Every time we declare something a crisis, nothing gets done,” Councilman Ron Roberts added. “It’s only a couple years since we declared a crime crisis . . . and it’s gone up since then.”

Councilman George Stevens voted against Monday’s measure, arguing that declaration of a shelter crisis could help San Diego obtain federal grants to ease the housing shortage. Mayor Maureen O’Connor, Councilwoman Judy McCarty and Councilman Bob Filner were absent for Monday’s vote.

When the issue returns to the council next month, the task force’s own recommendations will be supplemented by city administrators’ suggestions for shelter locations throughout the city.

Many churches already provide emergency housing in wet, cold winter months, but Hartley’s proposal to create 24-hour, permanent facilities in neighborhoods could dramatically expand the available housing--as well as broaden the political furor that accompanies it.

At Monday’s meeting, residents of several neighborhoods began their campaigns to persuade the council to look elsewhere for shelter sites. Community leaders of Center City East, for example, complained that their area already houses a large number of social service agencies, while testimony from several Linda Vista residents was typified by one woman who said simply: “Please don’t ruin my neighborhood.”

Besides public opposition, Hartley’s plan to ease San Diego’s homelessness also faces a formidable financial obstacle.

Based on a $5-per-bed estimate for “warehouse” emergency shelters where individuals sleep on cots or on floor mats, the cost of housing San Diego’s estimated 7,000 homeless would be $13 million annually. For facilities that provide amenities such as food service or showers and that are staffed by social service professionals, the annual cost could more than double, according to a report prepared by City Manager Jack McGrory’s staff.