Enrollment for the Expanded Safe Sleep Program is expected to begin next month.

The city of San Diego is expanding its safe sleeping program to bring the total number of tents at the two sites to approximately 760.

An additional 180 tent sites have been created at the O Lot site, with another 50 built at 20th and B streets. New enrollment at the expanded Safe Sleeping centers is set to begin next month.

The Safe Sleep program is a shelter option that provides individuals or couples with tents and cribs, as well as food, transportation and support services, including attempts to connect them with housing.

Safe sleep. designed to help the growing number of people living in community camps, was launched in June 2023. In some cases, outreach teams were able to remove entire camps from the streets.

Each tent can accommodate up to two people, creating a new option for those who want to stay with a partner or carer. Participants are also welcome to bring their pets.

The expansion of the program, proposed in the city’s recently updated Comprehensive Housing Strategy, is part of a plan to transition approximately 600 beds at facilities that are expected to close or reduce occupancy over the next few months.

The nonprofit Dreams for Change manages Lot 20 and Lot B, as well as part of the O Lot, with the Downtown San Diego Partnership sharing responsibility for O Lot. This calendar year, 118 participants were connected to housing.

“These sites are a lifeline for those who have been living on the streets for years and want a low-barrier option to begin the process of ending homelessness.” said Sarah Jarman, director of the city’s Department of Homelessness Strategies and Solutions.

Earlier this month, the City Council voted to expand the Safe Sleep program overall by nearly 50%.

In FY 2024, City-funded programs provided 1,677 people with secure, permanent or other forms of long-term housing, a 24% increase over the previous year.