San Diego, CA
Opinion: Bold action is needed to secure more housing
The homelessness crisis in San Diego is complex and urgent, demanding innovative ideas and decisive action.
Over the last year, my team at the Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department has worked to add more than 900 new sheltering options — including traditional shelter beds and safe sleeping sites — but we know we have more work to do. Approximately 80 percent of shelter bed referrals are not met, because we don’t have enough resources to keep pace. Our outreach teams often have to tell people there is no space available — this is not acceptable to me and should not be acceptable to anyone. The status quo will remain unless bold action is taken.
We have looked at dozens of properties, both city-owned and private property, to keep adding much needed shelter beds. We’ve turned non-transitional spaces into temporary shelter for San Diegans trying to end their homelessness, but those are temporary solutions. San Diego has never had a long-term shelter campus solely dedicated and designed to help those experiencing homelessness. As a leader in this space, the type of campus proposed at Hope @ Vine would set the bar for how local governments address homelessness.
The property located near Middletown presents us the unique opportunity to create a space to address the varying populations experiencing homelessness, ensuring we are incorporating best practices, lessons learned from siting shelters in the past, voices from local leaders and those with lived experience. This facility will honor the humanity and dignity of every individual being served. We aren’t looking to lease a warehouse, we’re planning to build a transformative campus to deliver services and ultimately save lives in a modern, compassionate way that all San Diegans can be proud of.
When considering the size of the project, I understand some may be concerned about density and scale. Rather than a large, impersonal space, I ask you to imagine a bright, welcoming, state-of-the-art facility designed with care and intention. Creating a successful and sustainable design for this project is a top priority for me and my team. With 65,000 square feet of indoor space in separate buildings, we can create individual spaces for different populations potentially including families, older adults, veterans and other San Diegans. In essence, it will function as multiple shelters on one campus with outdoor patios and dining areas, a commercial kitchen, pet spaces, laundry facilities, and round-the-clock security and staffing to enhance safety for everyone. We also envision onsite medical and behavioral health services, as well as case management, job training, and other wrap-around services, will be offered.
It will be a place of hope and opportunity, helping people transition out of crisis and into a clean, safe and inclusive environment, setting them up to improve their lives and become self-sufficient.
Where do we go next? If this project is approved by the San Diego City Council on Monday, we have more work to do. One of my top priorities is hearing from those who have personally experienced homelessness. These individuals will be part of a working group with regional experts to help guide our efforts. This collaboration will be invaluable.
I know the Hope @ Vine campus will be a life saving asset for our most vulnerable residents working to end their homelessness with the ultimate goal of connecting people to long-term, stable housing. We know this can be a model that other cities look to as they similarly grapple with the complexities of homelessness. In the face of such urgent need, we cannot turn a blind eye to an opportunity that holds so much promise. The cost of doing nothing is too high.
Jarman is director of the city of San Diego’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department and lives in San Diego.
Originally Published:
OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.
“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.
So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.
With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.
The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.
Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”
One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.
“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”
Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.
Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.
“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.
As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.
Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”
That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.
The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.
“She’s a great player,” said Brown.
“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”
Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.
“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”
Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.
Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.
About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”
Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.
Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.
“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.
Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.
“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”
Joan Endres
OBITUARY
Born January 1939 in Cincinnati Ohio. Died February 14, 2026, in San Diego, California, with her sons at her side. Her beloved husband Dean passed away in 2010.
Joan was the only child of Thomas and Edna Palmer. In 1943, the family moved to San Diego, where Joan graduated from Helix High School in 1956.
In 1957 Joan married Dean Endres of San Diego, where they raised two sons. Joan followed her two great passions outside the home, the Arts, and Gardening. Both activities being a way to bring beauty to others and to the community.
Joan received a degree in Environmental Design from San Diego State University, and afterwords worked at UCSD, for the Campus Architect.
As an artist, Joan worked in various media, especially ceramics. She was active in many cultural and arts organizations, eventually becoming President of the Combined Organization for the Visual Arts (COVA). Later she turned to gardening, with the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca Community College and the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County.
Joan is survived by her son Jeff and wife Katrin, grandson Jackson, and son Todd Endres, all of La Mesa, and sisters Alice Buck of Phoenix, Elaine Kennedy of San Diego, Nancy and husband Don Jones of Vista, Eva Budzinski of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and their children and grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Joan in the near future. Those who wish to attend should contact celebratejoanuvart@gmail.com to receive details when they are confirmed. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests a donation to the Water Conservation Garden or the Diego Visual Arts Network (SDVAN).
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