San Diego council members are skeptical about creating new shelters amid possible cuts to existing homeless programs.

Several San Diego City Council members expressed deep hesitation about moving forward with two of the mayor’s shelter proposals, at least for now, amid the threat of cuts to a range of other relief programs. against the homeless.

An empty warehouse near downtown that could accommodate 1,000 people, as well as a warehouse near the airport that could accommodate hundreds of cars, could be delayed as leaders grapple with a looming deficit.

Officials seemed particularly concerned about making cuts to the San Diego Housing Commission, which runs the city’s largest shelter network.

“I just wonder if it’s fiscally responsible” to set aside large sums of money for a “new theoretical goal,” Councilman Kent Lee said Monday at a budget review committee meeting, “when We are currently reviewing proposed reductions to fund existing shelters and housing. awareness efforts.

Mayor Todd Gloria wants to use land known as H Barracks, the site of a former U.S. Navy installation, as a place where homeless people can sleep in vehicles, and he recently announced plans to convert a building located at Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street in what would be the city’s largest shelter.

Homelessness has increased every month for the past two years and the proposals would deliver on a promise to add 1,000 beds to an overwhelmed system that regularly turns people away.

But the first plan was threatened with legal challenge from some neighbors and approval was almost immediately delayed by questions about the 35-year lease, which combined with operating expenses could ultimately cost more than $1 billion.

“Even if this were a proper real estate transaction – and I am convinced it is far from perfect – it would be irresponsible to move forward this year,” Councilwoman Vivian Moreno said.

Monday’s hearing presented a series of possible reductions.

That included about half a million dollars that could be taken from the downtown Neil Good Day Center, the county’s only drop-in center for people living on the streets. The building offers a range of services, such as laundry and showers, to the hundreds of people who can show up each day to charge their phones, meet with case managers or get tested for illnesses.

Dozens of people spoke at the hearing to defend the facility and said any reduction in funds would result in reduced hours and reduced access to mail, which could make it harder for people to apply for a job or accommodation.

“Clients who are normally at the day center, especially if we are closed on the weekend, will be outside,” said Paul Sheck, the center’s program manager.

Council member Stephen Whitburn suggested redirecting money set aside for new port-a-potties downtown, an area notoriously poor in public restrooms, to help the day center. But he also offered the strongest defense for adding shelter beds.

“I think it’s a moral issue,” he said. “We consider that these shelters are necessary because “existing facilities” are full.

Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to give cities more leeway to clear encampments, which could prompt even more people to demand beds.

Several town hall officials have committed to continuing negotiations. Sarah Jarman, director of the city’s Department of Homeless Strategies and Solutions, added that they are still exploring other shelter options.

The Housing Commission report was even more dire.

Lisa Jones, the agency’s president and CEO, said that if it ends up losing about $20 million, or about 42 percent of its hoped-for budget, the commission could decline to pursue several programs and require the city of San Diego takes care of them. instead.

Much of the discussion focused on rental assistance.

In more than a year and a half, no families have received new Section 8 housing vouchers, Jones said.

Part of the reason is that local rents have risen so much that the available money is serving fewer and fewer people. Jones said the wait for some vouchers now stretches to 18 years.

If the federal government, which funds Section 8 vouchers, shuts down, it is possible that some residents could lose this assistance entirely and, by extension, their housing.

“We may be at the tipping point of a bigger crisis,” said Councilor Joe LaCava.