After much discussion and analysis, a vote on the proposed Middletown “mega-shelter” proposal by the San Diego City Council has been delayed to July 30 while the agreement between the city and the property owner is more thoroughly reviewed and renegotiated.
Serving Seniors watched the discussion with interest. We’re encouraged by the sense of urgency expressed during the meeting by officials, experts and the public on the need to address the homelessness problem in San Diego.
While it is tempting to rush toward solutions, it is vital the city’s investment secure the best possible deal to maximize services for people experiencing homelessness and make the most of the taxpayers’ investment.
We support adding more shelter beds, especially ones that are age-friendly to assist seniors who now make up almost a third of our unsheltered population.
None of the more than 100 speakers on both sides denied the need to find solutions to the San Diego region’s challenges with people experiencing homelessness. Where they disagreed was on the most efficient and effective way to solve the problem without obligating the City of San Diego to an expensive experiment.
After nearly three decades working to address the needs of seniors in San Diego County experiencing homelessness, our team at Serving Seniors understands the frustration of the public. For more than two years, the number of people becoming homeless has increased over the number of people finding permanent housing each month.
According to the Independent Budget Analyst’s report on the proposed site, the transition rate for residents of the city’s smaller shelters (100 beds or less) into permanent or long-term term housing is 35.5%. The rate for shelters with more than 100 beds is closer to 12.5%.
Frankly, neither rate is acceptable. Shelters provide a place to get people off the street into a safe environment where their short- and long-term needs can be assessed and addressed. Simply allowing people to live in a campsite or a warehouse is not enough. Sufficient funds need to be allocated for robust services across the continuum of need. The metric for success or failure is solving an individual’s homelessness by getting them into permanent housing.
We have learned from our experience a shift in thinking is needed about the best ways to solve this societal issue. Long-term solutions begin with recognition of the problem, a thorough assessment of causes, and the formation of solutions targeted toward those specific causes.
The 2021 Serving Seniors Needs Assessment revealed older adults are a growing segment of people experiencing homelessness. It stands at 30%, and it has increased year over year. More people experiencing homelessness of all ages are disabled. Also growing are the number of people including older adults and families living in their cars.
Large congregate shelters do not accommodate family groups including young children. They are not accessible to people who are not physically able to maneuver into a top bunk bed or through narrow rows of beds in a wheelchair or while using a walker. Vulnerable people including seniors, women and members of the LGBTQ+ community often become victimized by predators within the population who would take advantage of them.
Leaders and funders agree on the need for age-friendly shelters and dedicated shelters for seniors to accommodate aging and mobility issues. The city of San Diego leased a 34-room hotel on Pacific Highway and successfully converted it into a non-congregate shelter to help aid people over 55 years old experiencing homelessness. Serving Seniors has successfully operated the shelter for 20 months.
To date, more than 150 seniors have successfully transitioned into permanent housing from Seniors Landing, a transition rate of 90%. This is strong evidence about the benefits of smaller shelter environments.
A more effective and humane approach to homelessness is preventing it from occurring. Shallow rental subsidy programs currently being run as pilot programs by the city and county of San Diego prevent homelessness and save money. For $500 monthly per person, estimates provided by county staff for providing emergency shelter instead cost $2,500 to $6,000 per month per person, depending on services offered.
Serving Seniors urges everyone who participated in Monday’s discussion to come back to the table with the intention of moving forward on the most cost-effective, efficient ways to put people in permanent housing, with a focus on methods that demonstrate the best results.
Paul Downey is CEO of Serving Seniors, a San Diego-based nonprofit that helps seniors in poverty live healthy and fulfilling lives.
