UC San Diego to Open Large-Scale Research Hub on Homelessness

UC San Diego will open an information hub centered completely on homelessness, meant to function a non-partisan hub for analysis, schooling, coverage and motion on homelessness, it was introduced Thursday.

The Homelessness Hub at UC San Diego will likely be underneath the umbrella of the college’s Division of City Research and Planning. Philanthropist {couples} Phyllis and Dan Epstein and Hanna and Mark Gleiberman donated $1 million every to the college to ascertain the hub.

“Longtime college supporters and neighborhood philanthropists Phyllis, Dan, Hanna and Mark share a typical conviction that society’s largest challenges require centered efforts and sources to unravel,” UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Ok. Khosla stated in an announcement. “The Homelessness Hub at UC San Diego has the potential to make a major affect in understanding and addressing the elements that result in homelessness.”

Final 12 months, the Regional Job Pressure on Homelessness estimated that the variety of first-time homeless individuals within the county grew from 2,326 in 2019 to 4,152 in 2020, a 79% enhance.

“Homelessness has remained a long-term drawback in San Diego and we should always flip to one of the best researchers now we have to determine considerate options,” Dan Epstein stated. “The College of California will play a constructive position in that regard.

“That is about getting individuals not solely a spot to dwell, however the whole lot that goes together with it,” he stated. “UC San Diego can determine what individuals want and the way greatest to supply providers, after which the true work begins.”

The Homelessness Hub is meant to sort out the difficulty by “bringing collectively and drawing upon the knowledge of researchers, service suppliers, civic leaders and unhoused San Diegans to conduct vital analysis, synthesize and talk findings, in addition to inform native coverage and motion to deal with homelessness,” in line with an announcement from the college.

“Think about, for instance, if we may optimize San Diego’s winter shelter community,” stated Mirle Rabinowitz Bussell, UCSD professor and director of undergraduate research within the Division of City Research and Planning. “The place ought to we find shelters? What providers needs to be provided? For the way lengthy? For the way many individuals? How can we hyperlink secure in a single day parking to assist forestall homelessness within the first place?

“Now, via the Homelessness Hub at UC San Diego, now we have the chance to collaborate with nonprofit leaders and elected officers to make selections that transfer us towards the objective of eliminating homelessness,” Bussell stated.

–Metropolis Information Service