by At the fourth annual symposium of San Diego Rescue Missions, thirteen mayors and civic leaders from over San Diego County convened on Monday to organize regional responses to homelessness.
For the first time, leaders from all 18 of the county’s communities met behind closed doors at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club in Solana Beach, signaling what organizers described as a historic turn toward regional collaboration.
“When we treat homelessness as the regional crisis that it is, this symposium shows what’s possible,” said Donnie Dee, president and CEO of San Diego Rescue Mission.
According to officials, the two-hour meeting’s main objectives were to identify service gaps, share best practices, and investigate fresh chances for regional cooperation that could result in long-term, sustainable solutions.
The meeting builds on momentum from 2024, when a regional task group was established and participating mayors signed a proclamation pledging to take coordinated action. They reaffirmed their commitment to a regional approach by signing a second proclamation on Monday.
In order to directly connect homeless people to services, the rescue mission has extended its outreach activities to Little Italy, Vista, Oceanside, and soon El Cajon, according to officials. Through residential rehabilitation programs, emergency shelters, and street outreach, the charity has assisted over 800 individuals in obtaining permanent housing over the course of three years.
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond stated that since homelessness transcends local limits, neither should our approach to it.
Get neighborhood news in your inbox. It’s free and enlightening.
Become one of the 20,000+ individuals who receive breaking news alerts and the Times of San Diego in their inbox every day at 8 a.m.
Weekly updates from San Diego communities have also been provided! You acknowledge and agree to the terms by clicking “Sign Up.” Choose from the options below.
In addition to council members and other officials, the mayors of San Diego, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, and Vista were among the participants. The event was sponsored by the Luise Indians’ Rincon Band.
In 2022, the rescue mission launched the Mayors Symposium to investigate strategic ways that the public and business sectors could collaborate to improve the county’s homelessness situation.
