San Joaquin County could develop the region’s first homeless safe camping facility on the site of the recently-closed Oakmoore Golf Course in Stockton.

The 67-acre site is on North Wilson Way in an unincorporated pocket of the City of Stockton across from the Stockton Open Air Mall & Flee Market.

Action to execute the $9.6 million purchase is before the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

The parcel is large enough the county may eventually locate other facilities there such as a public works yard.

The addition of a safe camping facility would address one of the most vexing problems dealing with the homeless— those who refuse to access shelter beds when they are available and offered to them.

The creation of a safe camping complex in lieu of setting up an illegal encampment is considered by law enforcement and homeless advocates as a major step forward in addressing a wide variety of issues.

First and foremost, it provides a safe and secure place for the homeless to stay that is not with the confines of a shelter.

The county plans to model the safe camping facility after one Placer County developed on its property in Auburn.

*Uniform tents provided are lined up in rows with considerable spacing in between.

*The homeless aren’t limited to the amount of items they have, as long as it is kept in the tents that are fairly good-sized.

*There are also facilities such as bathrooms, showers, and food service.

*Outreach services such as medical and assistance to get off the streets are also available.

*The entire complex is fenced in and has 24/7 security.

*An area within the fencing will be available for the homeless who opt to live in vehicles they own.

The safe camping approach is different than what Manteca is pursuing.

The homeless navigation center being built in Manteca on the back half of the parcel at 682 South Main Street requires a commitment on the part of the homeless.

It’s not a drop-in center, nor will they have the ability to come and go once they are in the program.

Services will be on site in addition to shelter, day room, bathroom facilities, and dining.

The additional services run the gamut from health and dealing with addiction to helping the homeless secure gainful employment. There also will be transitional housing.

The current Manteca emergency shelter at 555 Industrial Park Drive provides shelter, dining, and support services.

There is also an effort to transition homeless who want to get off the street. They do have the ability to come and go during the day.

The navigation center is dedicated 100 percent to working with the homeless occupying shelter beds to get them off the streets. And — as previously noted — they cannot come and go.

Manteca currently has no plans for a safe camping site.

As such, the homeless not in the navigation center program — or on a wait list to get in if such a list was available — could be subject to constant police pressure to move on when they illegally camp.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com