The City of Berkeley is now providing lockers for the homeless.

It’s a safe and secure place where people can store their belongings.

On Monday, the city opened the space full of lockers for those in need.

“It’s really meaningful, I think, for people who are on the street to know they have a place where they can put their stuff safely,” Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency Director of Housing Programs Robert Barrer said. “They don’t have to hide it under a bush or behind a corner somewhere.”

According to the mayor of Berkeley, there are more than 1,000 people who are homeless living on the city’s streets.

Many of them have large possessions and nowhere to put their belongings.

“Until we can provide shelter or housing for those individuals, we need to do something to help provide a secure safe place for them to store their belongings,” Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin said.

City officials say there has been a need for these lockers for years, and now, they’re able to provide 60 secure units for anyone who is looking for a place to store their possessions.

The program started on Monday and a handful of people are already using them.

“Just like everybody else, they have things to do and they have to carry their bags everywhere, so we provide a safe place for people to store their belongings,” Barrer said.

The mayor hopes to expand the program and add more lockers throughout the city.

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