News Summary
San Diego is grappling with a growing homelessness crisis as Mayor Todd Gloria implements a $250,000 budget cut to the Multi-Disciplinary Outreach Team. With over 10,600 individuals experiencing homelessness in the county, concerns rise over the sustainability of essential services. The Outreach Team, operated by People Assisting The Homeless, has been critical in helping vulnerable populations. The Mayor’s fiscal constraints may significantly impact these services just as the need continues to escalate, calling for urgent solutions to support San Diego’s homeless residents effectively.
San Diego is facing a critical challenge in addressing homelessness after the city’s Mayor, Todd Gloria, implemented a $250,000 budget cut to the Multi-Disciplinary Outreach Team. This decision comes at a time when more than 10,600 people in San Diego County are experiencing homelessness, sparking concerns about the future of services that cater to one of the city’s most pressing issues.
The Outreach Team, operated by the non-profit organization People Assisting The Homeless (PATH), plays a crucial role in assisting vulnerable individuals who face complex challenges, including mental illness and addiction. With approximately 8,100 beds available in interim housing, the city’s resources are stretched thin, and the needs of the homeless population are increasing.
The Mayor’s office has indicated that fiscal constraints are the primary reason behind the decision to cut the budget. There have been unsuccessful efforts by city council members to restore funding for the outreach team due to a citywide deficit. Currently, the outreach team relies on a one-time state grant of $750,000, expected to last until next summer. Last fiscal year, the team was nearly twice as funded, raising concerns about its sustainability moving forward.
Scott Marshall from the San Diego Housing Commission reported that the program will start to wind down operations unless ongoing funding is secured by mid-fiscal year. Potential reductions could involve decreasing the size of the outreach team and cutting direct aid provided to homeless residents. Each member of the outreach team typically assists no more than five or six individuals at a time, ensuring that services are tailored to meet each person’s needs.
In the last year, the outreach team provided services for homeless individuals 1,167 times, targeted mostly at those who had been homeless for an extended period. The team successfully moved 11 residents into permanent housing, with an additional individual secured temporary housing, resulting in a robust success rate of around 85% of those housed remaining stably situated. However, the future of these critical services hangs in the balance as budget cuts loom.
Should the outreach team be completely discontinued, the Mayor’s office hopes that other service groups will be able to fill the void. San Diego has several initiatives aimed at addressing homelessness, including the Coordinated Street Outreach Program with 40 outreach workers and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Resource Access Program aimed at frequent 911 callers. The San Diego police’s Intervention Services Team also focuses on assisting individuals struggling with mental health or addiction.
Compounding the issue, Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget includes potential cuts to the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) funding, which could lead to a loss of around $14 million for shelters and outreach services in San Diego. Mayor Gloria emphasized that losing this funding would result in over 400 individuals being displaced back onto the streets, exacerbating the homelessness crisis.
In a separate but related matter, the city plans to close the Midway homeless shelter, which provides 150 beds and has sparked significant concern among local business owners about a potential rise in homelessness in the vicinity. The San Diego Housing Commission has temporarily suspended intakes at nine area shelters to focus on relocating individuals from the Midway shelter, but community leaders stress that continuous funding is necessary to effectively combat homelessness rather than reducing vital services.
As the city grapples with its $258 million budget deficit, the need for sustainable solutions and committed funding remains a pressing issue in order to adequately support San Diego’s homeless population and prevent further destabilization of these essential outreach services.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union Tribune: Homeless Outreach Team
- Axios: Homelessness Outpacing Shelter Supply
- CBS 8: Possible Spike in Homelessness
- NBC San Diego: Future of Midway Homeless Shelter
- Times of San Diego: The Older Americans Act
- Wikipedia: Homelessness in the United States
- Google Search: Homelessness in San Diego
- Google Scholar: Homelessness Outreach Programs
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Homelessness
- Google News: San Diego Homelessness
