A recent report says that the number of homeless in Downtown San Diego has peaked at a record high as of August.
According to this recent count reported by the Downtown San Diego Partnership, there is currently up to 1,609 homeless living in the area as of last month, with up to 800 staying in East Village alone.
The staggering number is concerning considering that it is the biggest count yet since the organization began taking count of homeless rates a decade ago.
“The need in downtown is great and it doesn’t take reading this monthly report to know this is true,” Downtown San Diego Partnership President and CEO Betsy Brennan said in a press release. “Every week, we are working with unhoused clients directly to learn about their needs and we hear about the experiences of residents, business owners, and our workforce and the suffering they’re witnessing on our streets and sidewalks.”
Lucky Duck Foundation Executive Director Drew Moser told the SDUT that this data is unacceptable for the city, and that it is urgent to address these staggering numbers involving homelessness.
“This is entirely heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Lucky Duck Foundation Executive Director Drew Moser said. “These numbers represent an all-time high in the 10 years the Downtown Partnership has done a monthly count of homelessness. This is further evidence of the urgent need to add readily available beds and other critical services and strategies to help people find a bright and immediate pathway off the street. While we remain poised and committed to supporting high-impact, cost-effective and tangible programs, we call on our elected leaders to do the same,” Moser added.
Tamera Kohler, CEO of the Regional Task Force on the Homelessness, says that this report doesn't surprise them at all, considering that the sight of homeless in the area has been growing and growing rapidly over recent years.
“This increase doesn’t come as a surprise from the data we collect every day and what outreach teams are seeing and reporting,” said Tamera Kohler. “We are seeing too many people experiencing homelessness for the first time and many in their later years, too many families, and far too many suffering from multiple health needs.”
