Mayor Gloria lays out ways to combat homelessness in city budget proposal

SAN DIEGO — Whereas town of San Diego’s subsequent fiscal 12 months price range closely focuses on infrastructure enhancements, on the thoughts of many San Diegans is the persistent situation of homelessness.

“Whereas I’m sad with our present state of affairs on our streets and sidewalks, it may very well be infinitely worse. This price range will make it approach higher,” Mayor Todd Gloria stated.

Gloria introduced greater than $60 million within the metropolis’s proposed price range could be directed towards preventing homelessness. Greater than $4 million of that will go to handle homeless encampments and almost $14 million to handle shelter capability, providers and outreach.

Homeless advocates have been important of town’s efforts, together with everlasting housing, which is one thing the mayor additionally touched on.

“We’ll enhance the quantity of shelter beds that we have now and enhance the quantity of everlasting supportive housing beds that we have now. We make the person contact on the road, we get them into shelter after which we graduate them into everlasting housing. That’s the way you finish homelessness,” Gloria stated.

This week, East Village noticed a number of rounds of avenue cleanup, trying to supply providers to the homeless inhabitants and clear the realm forward of the house opener for the Padres.

Gloria says San Diego nonetheless wants assist from the county to associate on new shelters with and from the state, extra help with behavioral well being reform.

In the meantime from the federal authorities, Gloria says rental help through the pandemic was pivotal.

“Paying again lease that San Diegans weren’t in a position to afford has prevented 16,000 San Diego households from changing into homeless, in order dangerous because the state of affairs is, it may very well be dramatically worse.”

Gloria talked about a brand new 125-bed shelter opening quickly within the Halfway District, a brand new 40-bed facility for ladies downtown and some extra tasks on the best way town hopes to announce quickly.