Gaslamp Quarter and Rise in Homelessness
On January 25 2024, at the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, California, 49er fans celebrated a 34 to 31 win against the Lions. The revelers’ excitement could be heard down the entire block of Fifth Street, but their red and white jerseys shared space with others; those experiencing homelessness.
Two days before on January 25th, San Diego County participated in the annual, and federally mandated, point in time count. Last year’s PITC saw 25.9% increase of people experiencing homelessness, with the central region seeing an increase of 31.7%. This isn’t a huge surprise since the majority of homeless resources and services exist in East Lake, San Diego. When day centers provide access to food, safety, and resources, and some shelters are on a first come first serve status, it is no wonder why people experiencing homelessness gravitate towards the area.
This year’s Homeless Count may have a shift in numbers because of an ordinance passed during the Summer of 2023 banning visible encampments if there are available shelter beds. The stipulation, however, is the ban is only enforced in certain areas, leaving more marginalized parts of San Diego open to increased encampment activity.
The idea that many people experiencing homelessness in California gravitated from other parts of the country was debunked in a statewide study by the University of California San Francisco. The findings showed 90% of those who entered homelessness were last housed in California.
Katie, for example, moved to the area in the 1970s with her husband when he was stationed in San Diego. She worked most of her life as a caretaker to older adults and after her divorce, resided in her own apartment until there was new ownership of the building. Katie was asked to vacate her home and with only her social security income, was unable to find a new home. She currently sleeps on Fifth Street with only a sleeping bag in San Diego’s Gaslamp District.
Back on October 14, 2019, San Diego’s Housing Commission passed The Community Action Plan on Homelessness for the City of San Diego, an impressive 10 year strategic plan with the overarching goal to create, “a client-centered homeless assistance system that aims to prevent homelessness, and that quickly creates a path to safe and affordable housing and services for people who experience homelessness in our community.”
The Leadership Council meets quarterly to discuss the Community Action Plan, with November 14, 2023 being their last, specifically reviewing the updated need and financial modeling and the implementation of San Diego Housing Commission and City of San Diego Homeless Services Programs Dashboard. The dashboard holds real time data of all programs in San Diego, lifting up accountability and transparency - part of the guiding principles of the Community Action Plan.
The BIPOC community disproportionately represents people experiencing homelessness, and although the demographic numbers were mentioned, the 10 year comprehensive plan failed to mention any factors, initiatives or strategies surrounding equity. Similarly, those on the front lines providing direct services are people of color themselves, eligible for services themselves meeting the income threshold.
The dissonance between the San Diego Housing Commission and the City of San Diego can be felt in the active criminalization of homelessness. Page 57 of the community plan describes the various practices by police departments and city ordinances that continue to hinder people moving into permanent housing. Both people experiencing homelessness and front line workers spend countless hours attempting to resolve infractions like trolley tickets or tickets for illegal lodging. Currently, there are no key strategies listed in the 2019-2029 action to support a solution, although the following are listed as part of the Leadership Council for the City of San Diego Community Action Plan:
San Diego City Mayor, Todd Gloria
City of San Diego Director, Homelessness Strategies and Solutions, Hafsa Kaka
County of San Diego, Chairwoman Nora Vargas
City of San Diego Deputy Director, Homelessness Strategies and Solutions, James Carter
County of San Diego Policy Advisor for Chairwoman Nora Vargas, Amy Castaneda
The next meeting with the Leadership Council should be scheduled in March, but no announcement has been made with an exact date and time.
As for Katie, she spoke briefly of her time being involuntarily hospitalized and sounded as if she suffered from delusions, referencing mechanical lights following and attempting to influence her body. She also indicated she was connected to a social worker but has not been in communication with them. Katie is well familiar with different areas around Downtown to avoid police interactions and street sweeping.
