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. 

Welcoming a New Director for Homeless Strategies 

Last week, I announced that Hafsa Kaka, director of the City of San Diego’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department (HSSD), accepted a prominent new career opportunity and that we named Sarah Jarman to lead the department. 

Sarah has worked at the City since 2016. She was an inaugural member of the Homelessness Strategies and Solutions team. As assistant deputy director of HSSD, Sarah oversaw and managed the department’s Project and Program Development Unit, where she was responsible for hiring and supervising staff, managing $60 million across more than a dozen programs, including contract monitoring, implementation of process improvements and coordinating with key stakeholders including local, state, and federal agencies. 

I want to personally thank Hafsa for all the hard work she has put in during the past two years to address the homelessness crisis – the most difficult challenge of our time.  

Under her leadership, the City stood up seven new shelters with 365 beds and increased available shelter-bed capacity by nearly 70 percent; expanded access to the Safe Parking Program by making one parking lot operational 24 hours a day and securing approval for a new parking lot that includes 12 camper trailers and expanded a highly effective street outreach program. She also created a model program in partnership with Caltrans to address unsafe encampments along state highways and secured state grants to address family homelessness and African-American homelessness in Downtown. 

HSSD under Sarah’s leadership is not missing a beat. Expect more announcements on action and progress on homelessness in the coming weeks.

City Library System Hires Unhoused Workers 

Last week, we held a job fair for San Diegans interested in a career with the City of San Diego, and the response was overwhelming. As part of the push to get the word out, our Department of Human Resources made a special effort to reach out to our shelters to ensure people experiencing homelessness were aware of these opportunities. 

I am thrilled to report that our Library Department has filled five available library assistant positions with San Diegans who listed shelters as their place of residence.  

I want to thank Director Julie Rasco and our HR department for their outreach to our unhoused neighbors; Library Director Misty Jones and her team for welcoming these new workers; and especially the newest members of our City family. I couldn’t be prouder of them for tackling their challenges and I’m so excited for them as they embark on this new chapter. 

Seniors Landing Resident Connected to Permanent Home 

Recently, a woman named Connie – one of the first residents of one of our newest shelters, Seniors Landing in Little Italy – was connected to permanent housing.  

As detailed in this post from Serving Seniors, the nonprofit service provider that operates Seniors Landing under a contract with the City of San Diego, Connie had been living out of a U-Haul van until she connected with a Serving Seniors’ housing team and became a temporary resident of Seniors Landing soon after it opened last December. Connie, a caretaker and a nurse, has been battling health challenges of her own. 

Connie is one of nine seniors who have temporarily resided at Seniors Landing and have now been connected to permanent or longer-term housing. 

I’m so proud of and happy for Connie and all the others, and I thank Serving Seniors for everything they do.

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  
• Community Harm Reduction Safe Haven 
• 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 Women’s Shelter 
• PATH Connections Housing  
• Rachel’s Promise Women’s Shelter  
• Rosecrans Shelter  
• Seniors Landing  
• San Diego Youth Services  
• Urban Street Angels Youth Shelter  

Partner Profile: County Public Defender’s Office 

Twice a month, the City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department (HSSD) coordinate Community Coordinated Access to Resources and Engagement (CARE) events in areas with a high concentration of unhoused people. HSSD partners with the County of San Diego and other local agencies and nonprofits to provide immediate, on-the-spot services and access to shelter and other resources to people living on the streets. 

The San Diego County Public Defender’s Office is one of the community partners who participate in these events. The Public Defender’s Office facilitates the Homeless Court Program (HCP), which helps people experiencing homelessness resolve outstanding misdemeanor offenses and warrants, including infractions such as sleeping on a sidewalk or on the beach, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, theft and boarding a trolley without fare.  

The court is a voluntary program, and participants do not have to fear being taken into custody or having to pay a larger fine. The HCP gives unhoused people the opportunity to clear legal issues that may be a barrier to getting a job or apartment. 

Other services provided at CARE events include access to case management, health education, public benefits and access to the necessary documents required to secure housing like DMV identifications or birth certificates. Connection to supportive services like primary care referrals, mental health and substance abuse treatment and veterinary services for their pets are other resources to help sustain their journey to permanent housing.