The county will take an all-hands-on-deck method to finish veteran homelessness by means of a coordinated effort that may embrace varied companies working collectively all through the area.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the trouble proposed final month by Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, a former Marine.
“It’s quite common for individuals to say, ‘Thanks to your service,’ however I feel that should truly imply one thing,” Fletcher stated in introducing a movement to direct the county chief administrative officer to create a plan that identifies assets which might be wanted to attain the purpose of ending homelessness amongst native veterans.
The board additionally directed the CAO to work with the Regional Process Power on Homelessness, the Division of Veterans Affairs, group organizations and non-county assets on the regional effort.
There was no instant value recognized within the proposal, and Fletcher referred to as for month-to-month progress updates on the plan.
The purpose is to achieve purposeful zero, outlined as when a group is ready to home its homeless inhabitants with room to spare on any given month.
A deal with homeless veterans has been efficient in recent times. Fletcher famous that there was a 30 p.c discount within the county’s homeless inhabitants over the previous 4 years.
Zach Schlagel, senior director of public coverage for Folks Aiding the Homeless, referred to as into the assembly in assist of the plan and stated solely 9 p.c of the county’s homeless inhabitants identification as veterans.
“This progress has occurred due to the VA, with the assist of the federal authorities and native leaders who’ve moved intentionally over the previous decade to supply higher funding and coordination on this subject,” he stated. “But extra work is required. It’s unacceptable for individuals who bravely served our nation to finish up on the road.”
Nationwide, the inhabitants of homeless veterans has dropped by 55.3 p.c since 2010 and dropped one other 11 p.c between 2020 and 2022, in keeping with information from the U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs, the Division of Housing and City Improvement and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
That also leaves about 33,000 homeless veterans nationwide, nonetheless, and a February 2022 rely in San Diego County discovered about 700 native homeless veterans.
Fletcher and different supervisors agreed that purposeful zero could also be inside attain with a extra coordinated effort.
“Right here in San Diego, we’ve a really aggressive and engaged VA workplace domestically,” he stated. “So, I consider there’s a path for us, if we will get all of those items aligned.”
A part of the plan requires making a by-name listing of homeless veterans to study their precise quantity and particular person wants, Fletcher stated.
“Then, we determine each particular person in that coalition,” he stated concerning the totally different organizations that shall be concerned. “What’s their function and what’s their duty?”
Though it hasn’t been set but, Fletcher stated the county plan will contain a timeline that may put stress on the coalition.
Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas seconded the movement to pursue the plan.
“There are such a lot of of us who’ve given a lot to our nation, and so they completely shouldn’t be unhoused,” she stated. “And so something that we will do, I’m blissful to assist.”
Jordan Beane, director of coverage and communications for the Regional Process Power on Homelessness, additionally referred to as into the assembly in assist. Beane stated the brand new coordinated effort might resolve gaps within the system.
For example, he stated absolutely funded housing assets for veterans exist, however veterans might have somebody to assist them discover these assets in a tricky housing market.
