San Diego reports a sharp decline in homelessness figures this year, showing a nearly 14% drop in the city. The Regional Task Force on Homelessness released the latest Point in Time Count data, revealing that homelessness decreased from 6,783 to 5,866 people.
As per the City of San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria highlighted the city's comprehensive strategy to mitigate homelessness through expanded shelter options and building more affordable housing. "The data released today by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness confirm that our comprehensive strategy to reduce homelessness and build more affordable housing is working, and I thank our service providers for the difficult work they do every day to change lives for the better," Gloria said. Yet, he emphasized the continued urgency, "But this is not the time to take the foot off the gas. When something is working, you don’t change course; you remain steadfast."
The city's targeted shelter approach for groups like women, families, and LGBTQ youth has produced tangible results, evidenced by significant decreases in unsheltered veterans, youth, and families by 22%, 23%, and 66%, respectively. Moreover, the Safe Sleeping Program's initiation has reached over 700 individuals, providing a haven and access to essential services for many who hadn't previously used homelessness services. The upcoming expansion of the Safe Parking Program effectively doubles the capacity to include 396 spaces, accommodating standard and oversized vehicles, with 19 trailers dedicated to families.
Mayor Gloria's policies have led to a significant uptick in new home permits, nearly doubling the annual average, with 9,700 new homes permitted in 2023 and around 8,500 in 2024 despite economic challenges. According to the latest statistics, the number of unsheltered residents in San Diego dropped from 3,489 to 3,354, a 3.9% decrease. However, it's important to note, the “unsheltered” number includes 844 people participating in the Safe Sleeping and Safe Parking programs. If these participants were considered sheltered, the decrease in unsheltered homelessness in the city would be 8.1%.
