San Diego is taking a significant step to address homelessness with the unanimous approval of a new 210-bed shelter program for unhoused single adult women and women-led families by the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) Board of Commissioners. The shelter, funded by the City of San Diego, will be administered by SDHC and is expected to contribute substantially to the ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness in the area.
Mayor Todd Gloria expressed his support for the initiative, stating, "With this new shelter, we’re expanding our capacity to get more people off the street and connected to care," according to a report by the City of San Diego. Gloria highlighted the progress achieved over the previous four years, which has seen shelter options more than double and nearly 5,000 individuals moved into housing. The new program comes on the heels of the City and SDHC's unveiling of a Short-Term Action Plan that added 263 beds across three new facilities.
In a push to further mitigate the issue of homelessness, City Council President Joe LaCava praised the addition of the much-needed beds for women and families, acknowledging that "Facilities like this, when used alongside prevention, outreach, mitigation, and building affordable homes, are important tools as we reduce suffering and help individuals and families move towards housing," as per the City of San Diego article.
District 3 City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, where the new shelter program will be located, lauded the joint effort, "By providing this beautiful safe space, we will lift up our most vulnerable women and children and give them a pathway to permanent housing and stability," the City of San Diego reported. The shelter, named Rachel’s Promise Center for Women and Children, will be operated by Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego, and aims to offer comprehensive support for women and girls, whose presence in homelessness programs has increased from 29.1% in 2020 to approximately 42% in 2024.
