Escondido council approves Interfaith plan to convert shelter beds into short-term withdrawal management program

Escondido — The Escondido City Council on a 3-2 vote approved a modification to Interfaith Community Services' Conditional Use Permit to convert existing emergency shelter beds into short-term withdrawal management beds at 550 West Washington Avenue.

City staff presented the modification during a public hearing, recommending adoption of Resolution 2025-11 without changes to an existing condition (E-5) that would alter gate hours. Alex Rangel, assistant planner, told the council the conversion would not change total on-site capacity and that the project qualifies for a CEQA exemption for existing facilities (Cal. Guidelines §15301).

Council members and public commenters framed the matter as both a public-health response and a local-planning question. Interfaith representatives said the conversion is intended to expand access to medically supervised detox and to speed placement of people into longer-term treatment.

Interfaith’s representative said, “Last year, we helped more than 1,000 individuals overcome homelessness” and that the organization “has secured a $12,000,000 grant from the County of San Diego to expand our withdrawal management services.” The Interfaith representative added the change would…