The Homeless Crisis

The homeless crisis is one of the most pressing issues facing local government today and we need to confront it head-on. Using a compassionate but tough two-prong approach, we need to provide critical services to those that will accept them but just as importantly, we need to diligently address the crime and quality-of-life issues surrounding the crisis. Since being appointed to council, we have taken significant steps towards addressing the crisis. Please see below for details on some of the significant steps we have taken.

Critical Services

It is imperative to connect those suffering from homelessness to critical services that can help them improve their quality of life and ultimately receive housing. We need to provide services in a way that doesn’t enable criminal behavior or fail to improve the quality of life for the recipient. These are several of the recent steps taken:

  • Created a second Homeless Outreach Team whose mission is to connect people with appropriate service. The ultimate goal of the H.O.T. is to assist the city’s homeless population in “breaking the cycle” of homelessness.

  • Voted to approve the operation of the City’s first year-round homeless shelter - “The Oceanside Navigation Center” - operated by the San Diego Rescue Mission, at the centrally-located 3131 Oceanside Boulevard property (formerly Ocean Shores School).  

  • Committed $3.5 million and 59 section 8 vouchers towards a 60-unit permanent supportive housing complex for homeless residents, which will be constructed on Greenbrier Drive. The project includes $6 million in state funds, along with private sector funding. 

“Having an impact on the homeless crises will require constant work and creative solutions going forward.”