Addressing homelessness is one of my top priorities. Every single day, we are getting people off the street, connected to services and on a path to securing permanent housing.  

San Diego to Increase Outreach Along San Diego River with $3.6 Million State Grant

Many people experiencing homelessness build encampments along the San Diego River, living in extremely unsafe areas prone to flooding.  

Through a collaborative encampment project funded by a state grant, we are actively working to do extensive outreach to many of these people and get them connected to long-term housing.  

A $17 million state grant was awarded last June to the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, City of Santee and California Department of Transportation, with $3.6 million going straight to our City. Part of the state’s innovative Encampment Resolution Funding Program (ERF), this funding has been instrumental in our ongoing efforts to get people off the streets and into care.  

By clearing unsafe encampments along our river and connecting residents to housing, we are not only improving public health and safety, but also fostering a sense of dignity and stability for those in need. 

Read more on Inside San Diego.   

CBS 8: Students Say Unsafe Camping Ordinance Making a Big Difference

It should go without saying: Children should not have to walk out into busy streets to get around homeless tent encampments on their way to school. 

One of the main drivers behind the passage, and my signing, of the Unsafe Camping Ordinance was to solve that problem while also giving the people living in tents on our sidewalks a safe place to go.  

It’s been over six months since the Unsafe Camping Ordinance took effect, and students in Barrio Logan say the law is already making a big difference.  

CBS 8 reports that elementary and middle school students at Perkins Elementary School used to see drug use, fights, and human feces while walking to school, but now that encampments are banned in some public places, like near schools, those problems are gone. We've also been able to connect more than 650 people living in encampments to shelter. 

I'm proud to see the positive impact of the Unsafe Camping Ordinance. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am so happy that the new law is creating a safer environment for students and pedestrians alike. I want to thank Perkins’ Principal, Fernando Hernandez, for advocating for this ordinance when it went before the City Council for approval last summer. 

As we move forward, I remain committed to finding holistic solutions to homelessness while ensuring the safety and well-being of all San Diegans – especially our children.

‘Women of Distinction’ Awards Spotlight San Diego Homeless Services Leader

In celebration of Women’s History Month, City Councilmembers and I recognized 10 women who strive to make San Diego a better, more equitable place for all. Among the Women of Distinction awardees was Dreams for Change CEO Teresa Smith. Teresa and her nonprofit operate two of the City’s Safe Sleeping Sites, which have helped hundreds seek immediate shelter and get on a path toward long-term sustainability. 

Teresa, recognized by District 3 Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, pioneered the Safe Parking program and later operated our first Safe Sleeping site in Golden Hill. She founded Dreams for Change in 2009 to address first-time homelessness. 

“At Dreams for Change we’ve kind of looked at homelessness and approached it from a few different ways: we started Safe Parking, really looking at those who are homeless in their vehicles,” Teresa said shortly after being recognized. “We also work around workforce development – you know getting them jobs. Employment is a key factor.” 

Teresa’s accolades include the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and TEDx speaker recognition. Teresa holds degrees in psychology, nonprofit leadership and human sciences, with military service coordinating mental health services in the U.S. Army Reserves. I want to congratulate Teresa and all the other awardees for their tireless efforts to make San Diego America’s Finest City. 

City Moves Forward with Affordable Housing Project in Ocean Beach

A new affordable housing project set aside for people with extremely low income will soon open in Ocean Beach.   

The City Council’s recent approval of the Abbott Street Affordable Housing Project marks a significant milestone of our ongoing efforts to expand affordable housing options in every neighborhood across San Diego. 

Made possible by a collaboration between the City, our San Diego Housing Commission, and state funding from the Homekey program, this project is a testament to our ongoing commitment to addressing homelessness and housing affordability.   

With $1.46 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and an additional $3.9 million from the state's Homekey program, the Abbott Street project will transform a vacant multifamily housing property into 13 affordable rental units for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. 

This investment underscores our City’s success in leveraging resources and partnerships to provide permanent housing solutions for vulnerable populations.  

Read more on Inside San Diego

Two Affordable Housing Communities Open in City Heights

Two transformative affordable housing communities are now open in City Heights. 

The City Heights Place and City Heights Plaza Del Sol projects stand together as symbols of our city’s unwavering commitment to building safe, secure, and welcoming homes that all San Diegans can afford. 

Built by Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation and Price Philanthropies, these deed-restricted communities will soon offer sanctuary to 135 families in need. 

City Heights Place includes 60 deed-restricted affordable units for very low-income households. City Heights Plaza del Sol includes 75 deed-restricted affordable units for very low-income households. Both of these projects will serve local City Heights families earning between $40,000-$80,000 for a family of four.  

These collaborative endeavors are more than just bricks and mortar; they are communities where individuals and families can thrive, supported by robust onsite services designed to foster self-sufficiency and stability. 

With community partners like Wakeland and Price, together we can build a city where everyone has a fair chance to succeed. Together, we’re not just building homes; we’re laying the foundation for a stronger San Diego. 

Homeless Resource Event Comes to South San Diego 

The City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department continues hosting homeless outreach events throughout the City in collaboration with local agencies and non-profit providers. The most recent Community CARE event was held at the Willie Henderson Sports Complex near Southcrest. 

Among the variety of social and medical services available, Homeless Court and DMV services were onsite. These resource fairs are held on a semi-regular basis in various San Diego communities. They help foster a connection with unhoused individuals and, in many cases, get people same-day supportive services. 

Art Therapy Program Reduces Stress, Brings out Creativity

One program at the City’s Community CARE events is designed to reduce stress and increase creativity. We recently caught up with Dennis Larkin, who's been a counselor and artist for 30 years. At the City’s homeless resource events, Larkin runs the art outreach table, which is filled with stencils, markers and other coloring materials. 

“What this looks like is we’re sitting here, we’re coloring, we’re having a good time,” Larkin said during a recent community event. “This is designed as a trauma-informed, science-based program that’s designed to bring down the stress levels of the individuals that are here — who are coming out of an unsheltered environment.” 

Larkin runs this form of art-therapy in partnership with Lived Experience Advisors. Formerly homeless himself, Larkin knows how impactful programs like this can be. 

“People have gotten up from the table and told me, ‘You know I haven’t done that in a long time,’ And that’s really what I strive for — is to make a connection with them but have them make connections with each other,” Larkin said. “The thing I like – it just looks like we’re coloring.” 

Watch a video featuring Larkin here.