Addressing homelessness is my top priority as your Mayor. Every single day, we are working to get people off the street, connected to services, and on a path to securing permanent housing. This weekly e-newsletter provides updates on each of these efforts and how we are ending homelessness in our City one person at a time. 

Latest News

City’s Homelessness Response System Helps 2,200 Off the Streets in 2022


Last year, our outreach and shelter efforts directly led to more than 2,200 people ending their period of homelessness on the streets. Over 1,900 of these folks are now in permanent housing, with the remainder finding a place in treatment programs, transitional housing, reunification with their families or other safe alterative to living on sidewalks or in canyons. 


Our homelessness response system is composed of three main parts: outreach, where we make contact with each person, learn their story and determine what kind of assistance they need; shelter, where a person can get stabilized and access a warm bed, bathrooms, storage for their belongings, and services that will lead to their being permanently housed; and housing – through vouchers, supportive housing with onsite services, or simply a connection with an affordable apartment. 


Since closing the emergency pandemic shelter at the Convention Center in April 2021, we’ve added 658 beds to our city-funded shelter system – a 61% increase in less than two years. 

We’ve also diversified our shelter offerings to meet different needs among specific populations of people experiencing homelessness, including:  



We’ve recently secured another motel that will soon serve families experiencing homelessness.  

For those who have vehicles but not homes, we've expanded our Safe Parking Program. Soon we'll add a fourth location to this system in Rose Canyon. 


And, as promised, we’ve turned the Old Central Library in Downtown into an emergency shelter.

Focus Intensifies on Homelessness Prevention 


One of our key challenges in tackling San Diego’s homelessness crisis is that, for every 10 people we get off the street and into housing, 13 people become newly homeless. That’s according to a recent study by the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness -- and it’s also supported by data from agencies across the state and nation. 


The inability to afford housing is the No. 1 cause of homelessness, especially in a place like San Diego, where the cost of housing is high. 

It's clear that we must give San Diegans a better shot at remaining housed through tough times.


That’s why this year – working in partnership with Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, tenant advocates, and the rental housing industry -- we're going to build out our recently announced tenant-protection framework into a City ordinance that does more to protect renters than the City’s ever done before. 


In addition, the City’s Housing Commission will be doubling funding for homelessness prevention programs from $2 million to $4 million to ensure that those most at risk of becoming homeless receive assistance. This will help an additional 250 households, prioritizing seniors, persons with disabilities, and families with young children. 


And on Wednesday, the Biden-Harris administration released a new Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights that lays out a set of principles to drive action by the federal government, state and local partners, and the private sector to strengthen tenant protections and encourage rental affordability.


Outreach Corner

Focused Street Outreach in Old Town Connects Dozens with Help to End Their Homelessness  

 

Our Coordinated Street Outreach Program conducts focused outreach events across the city, during which outreach teams canvass an area to engage unsheltered people where they are and help connect them to supportive services.  

  

These twice-monthly, multiagency events provide unhoused residents with case management, health education, public benefits, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, primary care referrals, and access to hygiene kits, transportation and other essentials.  

  

Old Town/Presidio 

Last week the City of San Diego’s Community Coordinated Access to Resource and Engagement (CARE) Outreach event took place near Presidio Park with outreach to those living near the San Diego River.  


Partnering with the County and other local agencies and nonprofits, the Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department is helping to get people experiencing homelessness off the streets.  

During the four-day event, more than 250 intakes were completed to connect people to various resources, including shelter services, county benefits, case management and medical care.   


For the first time, the Homeless Court and DMV services were also available on-site. Having the DMV onsite is especially important, because identification is needed to access benefits and other services and to apply for housing. We had over 55 people use the DMV services during the event. 


Homeless Court helps people clear their records of misdemeanors and minor offenses, which can be a barrier to employment and housing. About 40 people availed themselves of these services. 


Clients at the event also were referred to and stayed in shelters and safe parking and two people found a spot in treatment. 


Shelter Update

Old Central Library Provides Women a Safe Place to Stay 


A portion of the Old Central Library has been converted to an interim shelter during the winter months with the partnership of Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department, NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) and City departments to prepare the site. The shelter, which recently received its first clients, will operated by the National Alliance for Mental Illness and serve up to 36 women.

Understanding the City’s Shelter System 


The City of San Diego has contracts with various service providers throughout the city to provide shelter options for individuals to stabilize in a safe, sanitary environment while they are connected to permanent or other long-term housing. 


The shelters listed below are City-funded or included as part of the City’s Coordinated Intake System for shelter placements. (Note: These do not represent all shelters operating within the City of San Diego.)


  • Alpha Project Bridge Shelter I 
  • Alpha Project Bridge Shelter II 
  • Community Harm Reduction Shelter 
  • Father Joe’s Villages Bishop Maher Center 
  • Father Joe’s Villages Paul Mirabile Center 
  • Golden Hall, First Floor 
  • Golden Hall, Second Floor 
  • Old Central Library
  • Palm Avenue Bridge Housing Program 
  • PATH Connections Housing 
  • Rachel’s Promise Women’s Shelter 
  • Rosecrans Shelter 
  • San Diego Youth Services 
  • Urban Street Angels Youth Shelter 

News Stories of Interest... 


Most Formerly Homeless San Diegans Securing Unsubsidized Rentals 

 

Gloria Focuses on Housing, Homelessness in 2023 State of the City Address 

 

Opinion: As San Diego mayor, here are my plans for homelessness, housing, infrastructure and safety 


Office of the Mayor

202 C St., 11th Floor

San Diego, CA 92101

619-236-6330

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