Homelessness is being discussed in neighborhoods across the county. Reducing the number of homeless individuals requires publicly tackling some of the most personal issues that exist in public policy. Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer, the City Council, county supervisors, San Diego Housing Commission, members of the Regional Task Force for the Homeless and many other regional partners all know that success in addressing this challenge is only possible through coordination, communication and innovation.
Working alongside City Council members we are helping to maximize resources across our region’s homeless care initiatives and developing a long term regional ecosystem that can be sustained over time. And working with the Regional Task Force, we are participating in the development of a cross-jurisdictional regional plan to move a larger number of homeless individuals into permanent, supportive housing.
Simultaneously we are pursuing short-term collaborative strategies to reduce the number of unsheltered. These include enhancing and expanding the Family Reunification Program; establishing a 24/7 hotline for shelter bed availability; adding temporary immediate beds for our most vulnerable people; increasing the number of beds available for low-level misdemeanor offenders in the San Diego Misdemeanants At-Risk Track (SMART) program; and working with the County to expand mental health outreach, and the San Diego Housing Commission to increase landlord engagement to provide more housing options and establishing prevention and diversion programs.
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