In a significant push to mitigate San Diego's homelessness crisis, Mayor Todd Gloria has implemented policies and expanded programs to provide shelter and services to those in need. According to a report by the City of San Diego, since 2021, Gloria's administration has more than doubled the number of options for individuals to transition from the streets into supportive programs, with an emphasis on serving diverse and vulnerable populations, including seniors, women, families, LGBTQ youth, and those struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues.
Under Mayor Gloria's tenure, new shelters have come online across the city to replace those reaching the end of their lifespan, with the San Diego Housing Commission playing a key role in securing new locations. In 2024, hundreds of beds were deftly replaced with a patchwork of new interventions, and the Safe Sleeping program launched in 2023, with City-provided tents, expanded, now catering to over 700 individuals on the outskirts of Balboa Park. Gloria's administration has tackled the city's homelessness with a multi-faceted approach, which includes increasing 24-hour Safe Parking lots and rolling out the Family Reunification Program, boasting a 98% success rate in relocating individuals to stable living conditions.
The scheduled opening of a fifth Safe Parking location near San Diego International Airport in spring 2025 is set to nearly double available spaces, boosting the City's capacity to aid those living in their vehicles. Additionally, Gloria has played a crucial role in safeguarding critical homelessness funding through the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention program (HHAP) as Chair of the California Big City Mayors.
