Homelessness Solutions

Overview

Imagine ending homelessness downtown.

This is not an invitation to daydream, it is the stated goal of a committed group spearheaded by CCDC and the Downtown San Diego Partnership. The team includes the County of San Diego, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, United Way of San Diego County, the San Diego Housing Commission and other agencies who understand the needs of our area's homeless population.

The goal is ambitious, progress has already been made, and the partners remain committed to the task. 

CCDC has taken a leadership role in the Ending Homelessness in Downtown San Diego campaign and developed a Five- Year Work Plan (2.2MB download). The effort kicked off last year with Registry Week, a coordinated outreach effort to learn more about those who sleep on the streets in downtown San Diego and to assess individual needs.  

Using the information gathered during Registry Week, Campaign partners committed the housing and services resources necessary to end homelessness for at least 125 of the most vulnerable individuals.

The result? To date: 

• 96 members of our community who were homeless and unsheltered are now off the streets and working with staff from the VA San Diego Healthcare System, Community Research Foundation, or Mental Health Systems, Inc, to end their homelessness
• 53 of those people are "home" - living in permanent supportive housing and continuing to work with service providers to address their challenges, achieve stability, and make progress toward their goals

Click here for the August 2011 Ending Homelessness in Downtown San Diego Campaign update.

CCDC's focus on ending homelessness builds on a strong track record of creating affordable and supportive housing opportunities downtown. Since 1975, more than 3,675 affordable housing units have been created in downtown neighborhoods, including 311 units of permanent supportive housing. In addition, more than 725 affordable housing units are in the development pipeline or are currently under construction, including an additional 301 permanent supportive housing units.