The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously declared homelessness a public well being disaster Tuesday, a transfer the board stated will create a extra unified, regional strategy to the issue.
In one other unanimous vote, supervisors additionally accredited a $3 million pilot program to offer $500 a month to 220 seniors to assist them keep away from homelessness over 18 months.
“A public well being strategy to homelessness will assist align efforts, share sources, and extra purposefully assist deal with the foundation causes of housing instability and well being on a big scale with a humane response,” stated Vice Chair Nora Vargas, who with Chairman Nathan Fletcher launched the coverage.
“In the present day, our county takes a major step, by serving as a regional convener, bringing cities, enterprise organizations and repair suppliers collectively in a collaborative effort to develop modern, sustainable, long-term options to forestall and finish homelessness.”
Whereas the declaration itself doesn’t create new applications or generate new funding, supervisors stated it might elevate homelessness as a regional difficulty and name consideration to the well being features of the issue.
A depend performed in February discovered 8,427 homeless folks all through the county, with greater than half residing with out shelter.
The Regional Activity Power on Homelessness, which conducts the depend, discovered 14 % of homeless folks have persistent well being situations, 18 % have psychological well being situations, 12 % have bodily disabilities, 13 % have substance use issues and about 25 % are 55 and older.
Following the vote, Father Joe’s Villages President and CEO Deacon Jim Vargas issued an announcement in assist of the declaration.
“Collectively, we are able to clear up the disaster of homelessness, however we should transfer out of disciplinary and jurisdictional silos to collaborate and work as companions with measurable targets, he stated. “This declaration is a key step to drive additional collaboration between our native jurisdictions, homeless companies suppliers, well being care professionals, and others to develop sources and a complete strategy.”
In the course of the assembly, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s chief of employees Nick Serrano spoke in assist of the declaration and stated all ranges of presidency ought to work collectively on the difficulty.
Jordan Beane, director of coverage and communications for the Regional Activity Power on Homelessness, known as the declaration extremely vital.
”One factor is obvious,” Beane stated. “Merely being with no house is a harmful well being disaster.”
Homeless advocate Martha Sullivan known as into the assembly in assist of the coverage and stated the county Medical Examiner’s Workplace had reported 495 deaths of homeless folks in 2021, up from 334 in 2020.
Fletcher stated the county has grow to be extra concerned than ever in engaged on options to homelessness, however extra must be carried out regionally.
“The best factor on the planet is for people to face up and say, ‘Not right here, not there, not this program or not this program,’” he stated in regards to the resistance some communities have put as much as shelters and companies. “The exhausting, troublesome work is setting up issues that, whereas imperfect, will really assist get folks off the road and get folks the companies and assist and assist they want.”
Most callers and public audio system have been in assist of the general public well being declaration and of the hire subsidy program for seniors going through homelessness.
Offering some background on the subsidy proposal, Serving Seniors President and CEO Paul Downey spoke earlier than the board and stated his group had launched a wants evaluation report final yr and located many seniors stated one other $300 a month would stabilize their housing state of affairs. Downey stated 80 % of 400 seniors interviewed within the evaluation stated they confronted housing instability due to financial causes.
Beane instructed supervisors that the newest depend by the Regional Activity Power on Homelessness discovered about 25 % of homeless folks on the road have been 55 or older, and the oldest particular person counted this yr was 87.
“When it’s just some hundred {dollars}, we must always do every part we are able to to fill that hole,” he stated in regards to the hire subsidy. “The best technique to clear up homelessness is to ensure no person experiences it within the first place.”
Sullivan, the homeless advocate who had supported the general public well being declaration, additionally known as in to voice assist of the subsidy program, however stated she was dissatisfied that funds wouldn’t start till subsequent March.
“The urgency is dire,” she stated. “These of us don’t have till March. There’s a variety of of us who’re going to grow to be homeless ready for this. And I’m very dismayed it’s solely 220 households.”
To qualify for the subsidy, an applicant have to be a minimum of 55 years outdated and the pinnacle of family. The applicant’s family revenue might not exceed 50 % of the realm median revenue, and the family have to be severely rent-burdened, which is outlined as paying greater than 50 % of family revenue in direction of housing.
In the course of the pilot program, desire will probably be given to candidates 60 years or older whose revenue is at or under 30 % of the realm median revenue and to seniors who dwell inside one of many 39 Well being Fairness Zip Codes, areas recognized as having a few of the poorest entry to wholesome residing situations.
Originally published at San Diego News HQ
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