County officials are asking unrelated residents to join a number of online forums to share their thoughts on what services should be provided to the homeless and where they should be accommodated.
The first session, held on May 19, was attended by a small number of participants and hosted by Omar Passons, Director of Integration at the San Diego County Department of Health, Human Services, Housing and Community Development Services.
“We need to respect people’s dignity and their choices, have a solution that works for them, work with people in the community,” Passons said.
The next session is scheduled for 5 to 7 pm on Tuesday, followed by 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday. The final session is scheduled for June 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
People can participate by joining the Zoom Meeting at the Designated Hours by visiting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8901778689: և using meeting ID 890 177 8689.
Comments և Questions can be submitted by email to Gloria Garzon by calling or texting [email protected]: or 619-759-0017.
Passons said the sessions came at a county board meeting on April 6, where members asked staff to speed up the process of finding people off the streets, finding solutions, and finding opportunities.
Historically, efforts to build shelters, housing, and services have often been delayed by community opposition, especially when residents say they have been left out of the process.
Efforts to help the homeless have also been criticized in the past for failing to meet the needs of the people they intend to serve.
With that in mind, Passons said the investment is being sought in advance by both residents and the homeless. He said people living in some homeless camps had even been notified of the sessions.
Catherine Rhodes called on the state to consider working with the cities involved to use the lake reservoirs for housing. As an example, he said that Santi has camp huts near his reservoir.
A woman named Tina from Spring Valley appeared on camera during a “Zoom in” meeting and suggested that the area be located near public places and grocery stores while viewing service locations.
He said that there is definitely a need for services in Spring Valley, but they have always been against providing them.
The session was divided into two one-hour sections. Rhodes was only one of the two participants in the second hour, and Tina was one of the seven in the first hour.
No participants said the county should try to do anything to help get people off the streets.
One woman offered services on the south shore of Mission Bay. “Passon said the area is within the city limits of San Diego.” The county had to focus on an unrelated area.
Another caller suggested using the shop windows that had been left vacant due to the epidemic, and another person suggested setting up a camp-type shelter.
The passers-by began the session by showing photos of various houses and shelters, including camp camps in both urban and rural areas.
Encouraging people to have different ideas, he showed pictures of small home communities, small living units made of straw mattresses, houses made of converted containers.
While saying that the county is trying to move fast in finding ways to help people on the streets, he warned that solutions will not come overnight, sometimes more expensive than people think.
“Whenever there is an option, there are many layers to think about,” he said.
For example, Pasons said that people can read about small houses that cost only $ 20,000 to build, wondering why cities and counties do not pursue them more often. He said that what they do not realize is that government agencies also have to pay for electricity, plumbing, food, transportation and other related expenses.
“It’s not to make excuses,” he said. “We all want solutions.”