this empty Warehouse near the airport could soon be the biggest homeless shelter in San Diego good evening I'm Kimberly hunt and I am W Ali today mayor Todd Gloria unveiled a plan to convert the building into space for thousand unhoused San diegans ABC 10 news anchor Nia Watson talked to homeless Advocates about the impact this could have this vacant Warehouse here on kentner Boulevard is what mayor to Gloria is proposing to turn into a long-term homeless shelter organizations I spoke with applaud the mayor on the idea saying there's an urgent need for more homeless shelters in the city and we're thrilled absolutely thrilled I think it's absolutely critical that we have these shelter beds if approved the nearly 65,000 foot Warehouse would become the city's largest shelter with 1,000 beds the space would provide meals and Case Management Services it'll also have showers dining and Recreation areas I really think that's the type of facility it's going to take to walk somebody out of the darkness of homelessness president and CEO of the San Diego rescue mission Donnie D says shelters including the organizations are usually near or at capacity so if somebody's living on the streets and wants to get inside doesn't want to be homeless we just don't have a place to put them full details on the space including what type of services the shelter will offer haven't been released yet but father Joe's Villages president and CEO Deacon Jim Vargas says it's important to have programs that will help keep people off the streets we need to make sure that we're address addressing substance use disorder that we are addressing mental health challenges but some people are concerned about the project and a statement mayoral candidate Larry Turner said in part quote the decision to move forward with this project which has been in the works for some time behind closed doors and without public discussion or Community input is alarming still organizations say the Bold plan is what San Diego needs and hope it'll be another tool in helping fight the homelessness crisis we got to do some things differently the need has never been greater in Middletown Nia Watson ABC 10 News the city