San Diego has the 4th largest homeless population in the U.S., according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The homeless population continues to grow by 5% annually, and its diversity, which complicates any solution, includes:
– 8% military veterans
– 31% chronically homeless
– 39% mentally ill, and
– 20% substance abusers.
To date, the national, regional and local authorities have done little to address the problem, and the City of San Diego does not even have a single person assigned to the issue. In a region facing a severe housing crisis across every spectrum of income, creative solutions involving the public, private and non-profits sectors are required to provide enough affordable housing and supportive services to slow the growth and reduce the number of homeless.
