The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously declares homelessness a public health crisis.

San Diego County Board of Supervisors Homelessness has been officially declared a public health crisis in San Diego County. The policy was presented by Vice Chair Nora Vargas and Chair Nathan Fletcher and unanimously approved today.

By declaring homelessness a public health crisis, addressing homelessness in the region is a priority and allows our local agencies to collaborate and implement new strategies.

“A public health approach to homelessness helps coordinate efforts, share resources and address the root causes of housing instability and health in a broader response,” said Nora Vargas, vice chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. . “Today, our county has taken a major step toward ending homelessness by serving as a regional convener, bringing together cities, businesses and service providers to create innovative, sustainable, long-term solutions.”

Chairman Fletcher has partnered with regional partners to address the county’s homelessness crisis by building a new 150-person shelter on county land and providing funding to help cities build new shelters, engaging the county more than ever before.

“Homelessness is a regional issue, and it takes all of us coming together and using every tool in our arsenal to get people off the streets and onto better roads,” said Chairman Fletcher. “No one community, individual or entity can solve this problem alone, so today we reaffirm our county’s commitment to working together with the 18 incorporated cities, states and nonprofit organizations.”

The county is partnering with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria on infrastructure projects that make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness.

“It was a long time ago that the city and the county were lost when it came to homelessness,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “I commend Chairman Fletcher and Vice Chairman Vargas for their work to ensure the county prioritizes the public health crisis for the thousands of people living on our streets. As Mayor of San Diego, I am committed to using all tools and working with all state, federal and local partners to solve this problem.

Declaring a public health crisis is a key step in creating resources and a holistic approach to further collaboration among our local states, community organizations, health care professionals and others. Under the leadership of the Board of Supervisors and the County’s Department of Homeless Solutions and Just Communities, the County has demonstrated a commitment to addressing homelessness by focusing on healthy social issues and improving the health of those experiencing homelessness.