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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to declare homelessness a public health crisis, directing the county’s chief administrative officer to work with city governments and a regional homelessness task force on a regional approach to addressing the issue.
Some of CAO Helen Robbins-Meyer’s other responsibilities include:
– Update the board on regional efforts and recommendations for the county’s framework to end homelessness by the first quarter of 2023, including a comprehensive review of services and housing for those experiencing homelessness.
– Identify potential economic impacts on the county and investments needed to significantly reduce homelessness;
– Finding housing opportunities and services and making recommendations based on reviews by Homebase, a non-profit group;
– Develop an improved data collection plan, review the county’s homeless services and programs, and develop other mechanisms, including access to 24-hour social workers or trained professionals; And
– Authorizing the Director of the Health and Human Services Agency to investigate and apply for other funding opportunities.
Officials say the crisis has been exacerbated in recent years by the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation-linked low wages, while addressing a decades-long lack of affordable housing.
Board Vice Chair Nora Vargas, who made the statement with Chairman Nathan Fletcher, said it was with “a very heavy heart” and “something I really wish we didn’t have to do.”
Vargas added that as a Southwestern College trustee, she knows students sleep in their cars.
“When we come together as a county and provide resources, people use them,” she said.
Making homelessness a priority will allow the county to review existing programs and “think about solutions that really affect our community,” she said.
Fletcher said public officials know homelessness “cannot be ignored and everyone must work to reduce it, including the 18 cities in San Diego County.”
Superintendent Jim Desmond said he’s happy to see a statewide approach, but says more work is needed to address the crisis.
Desmond added: “If we don’t deal with it, there will be more costs in the future.
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