San Diego, CA

Opinion: Providing connection and care by the San Diego River

Published

5 months ago

October 14, 2025

Opinion: Providing connection and care by the San Diego River

It’s 4 a.m. on a recent Sunday at the San Diego River, and volunteers from various organizations are gathering to conduct an annual census of people experiencing homelessness. The count is part of the San Diego River Park Foundation’s ongoing efforts to better understand the needs and challenges along the river. They work closely with my colleagues on the outreach team at PATH, and that morning, Assemblymember Chris Ward and college student volunteers joined the effort.

At first glance, it might not be obvious why an environmental organization is on the front lines of the homelessness crisis. But the reality is that when people use the river as a home and build encampments for survival, the environmental impact and the unsafe conditions that can result cannot be ignored.

The riverbed has long been a refuge for people experiencing homelessness. Many who relocate there have been displaced from other neighborhoods and seek stability after being shuffled around. Data collection events like this census have demonstrated the need for a specialized team dedicated to outreach along the river. Thanks to state funding from the Encampment Resolution Fund that is administered through the city of San Diego, PATH teams have been deployed to provide person-centered, trauma-informed care to those in need.

Having the Assembly member there was especially meaningful and personal. During his time on the San Diego City Council, he supported a PATH pilot program that reshaped how outreach is conducted. I was working as a community representative in his office at the time and was proud to be a part of that effort. Previously, outreach teams rotated through different areas each day, often meeting new people without the opportunity to build deep relationships. In 2018, Ward’s office provided some of the seed funding for the Mid-City Homeless Outreach program, a neighborhood-based case management model spearheaded by PATH. Instead of constantly moving, outreach workers were assigned to a specific community, allowing them to get to know people, build trust and address unique needs. The program’s success led to multi-year, citywide outreach contracts with PATH, which have since expanded across San Diego County.

On the morning of the count, volunteers encountered a small group of deaf individuals that had already built rapport with the River Park Foundation team. The group included a couple who were ready to enroll in services. Kat Moore, a member of PATH’s team, approached them and used her phone to communicate, following up on previous conversations they had with her colleague, Kendall Burdett, about providing support. Before leaving, she supplied them with a San Diego River Park Foundation-provided care kit that included socks, water, granola bars, trash bags and hygiene supplies. Most importantly, she left them with a pathway to stability and hope.

The following Monday, Kat enrolled them in case management and secured them a spot at the city of San Diego’s Safe Sleeping site. She arranged for an interpreter to be present at their intake. That is what outreach is all about — meeting people where they are, building trust and offering solutions tailored to their needs. Kat is part of a dedicated team that provides this level of tailored support to people experiencing homelessness in all the communities that PATH serves. Her level of compassion and commitment is what we look for when building our diverse outreach teams.

From June 2024 to July 2025, PATH’s city of San Diego outreach teams enrolled 1,283 unhoused people in services. The ultimate goal is to secure housing, but there are many important steps to navigate along the way. With support from our teams, 968 of those individuals achieved temporary exits, meaning they moved into a shelter, substance use treatment program, long-term care facility, or reconnected with friends or family. More than 300 people were connected to permanent housing, ending their homelessness.

While results and data are crucial to measuring impact and the efficacy of these programs, there is one thing they cannot capture: human connection. For people with few resources or social connections, a consistent relationship with a case manager, someone who checks in, helps you work toward your goals and genuinely cares, can be a lifeline. Along the San Diego River and across San Diego County, outreach offers more than services. It offers connection, care and a path to home.

Renner is the communications director for PATH, a statewide homeless services provider, and a board member of San Diego Pride. He lives in University Heights.

Source link

Related Topics:Commentary Featured opinion

Click to comment

San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

Published

6 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Source link

San Diego, CA

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

Published

18 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Source link

San Diego, CA

SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.

The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.

The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.

Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.

The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.

Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.

Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.

“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.

The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.

Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.

“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.

Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.

Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.

Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.

“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”

Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.

“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.

Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Source link