SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego officials are offering a new location to help temporarily shelter migrants seeking asylum.
The city says it has identified a new property to use as a shelter since its current temporary shelter doesn't have the occupancy for long-term sheltering, in a letter to California's Office of Emergency Services.
"The county recently vacated the Camp Barrett youth correctional facility in Alpine. The facility is already classified for residential occupancy and therefore does not require significant alteration to be used as a shelter," Robert Vacchi, deputy chief operating officer of San Diego's Neighborhood Services, wrote.
RELATED: Exclusive look inside San Diego shelter for migrant asylum seekers
Camp Barrett was closed in October following years of steadily decreasing populations at the county's in-custody facilities, according to the county. The remaining population was relocated to a Urban Camp facility in Kearny Mesa. The facility was capable of housing 125 boys.
Camp Barrett and surrounding property is owned by the city's Public Utilities Department, but slated for sale. Vacchi writes the property could be leased to the state or third-party on a temporary basis to use as a shelter for asylum-seeking migrants.
The Alliance Healthcare Foundation has agreed to fund the operation of a facility, according to Vacchi, and the city has been in talks with the agency to secure shelter operations.
The city is facing a Feb. 4 deadline to vacate the current shelter being used for migrant asylum seekers. The location of that shelter is being kept private to protect the migrants.
