United Way To Bring National, Local Leaders Together To Develop Plan To End Chronic Homelessness In San Diego

SAN DIEGO – In a rare collaboration of government, nonprofit and business organizations, United Way of San Diego County, the City of San Diego and County of San Diego are bringing together national and regional leaders at a two-day conference – Jan. 12-13 – to discuss ”The Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in the San Diego Region.

The plan to end chronic homelessness in the San Diego region is part of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness’ goal of ending homelessness nationwide. The city and county passed resolutions supporting the plan, and have asked United Way to convene the effort.  United Way of San Diego County is calling upon all cities within the San Diego borders, San Diego County officials and health and human services experts to begin developing the plan.  Attendees will include Ernie Linares, deputy director of community services, City of San Diego; Rene Santiago, deputy director, San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency; Mayor Art Madrid, City of La Mesa; Mayor Randy Voepel, City of Santee; Pamela White, housing director, City of Santee; Christy Guerin, deputy mayor, City of Encinitas; Maggie Houlihan, council member of Encinitas; Steve Jackson, City of Oceanside housing department; Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, City of Escondido; Bob Campbell, councilmember, city of Vista; and Dorothy Steinbeck, Supervisor Horn's representative, County of San Diego.

“The chronically homeless are individuals living on the streets, relying on emergency services for health care and require law enforcement resources – typically those who are mentally ill or substance dependant,” said Fred Baranowski, president and CEO, United Way of San Diego County.  “We are confident that by utilizing United Way’s knowledge of community needs and by bringing together a dynamic leadership council, comprised of 15 prominent San Diego leaders, we will make strides in providing solutions for the chronically homeless.”

The chronically homeless are underserved by existing efforts and use a disproportionate share of emergency services and resources, Baranowski added.

In addition to local leaders, conferees include Philip Mangano, executive director of the United States Interagency on Homelessness and White House appointee; Horace Sibley, chairman of the Atlanta Commission to End Homelessness; and Rob Hess, Philadelphia’s managing director of special needs housing.

"The Leadership Council, under the direction of Dene Oliver from the private sector and Fred Baranowski, is to be commended for the thoughtful and deliberative approach they are fashioning to reduce and end chronic homelessness in San Diego," indicated the Bush Administration's federal point person on homelessness, Mangano, who will visit and speak with the council during the next few days.  "The council is crafting a plan, building on the strengths of current innovative initiatives in the city, to position San Diego in the national partnership of more than 170 cities and counties that are working together in the creation of 10-year plans to ensure results-oriented, innovative strategies to improve the quality of life on our streets and in our neighborhoods here and throughout the entire nation."

The first day of the conference begins at 9 a.m. with a workshop for south, east and central San Diego County mayors, the leadership council and county supervisors.  Day two of the conference begins with a North County mayors meeting at 9 a.m. in the Parkview Room of Escondido City Hall.

"Information shared at these meetings will be taken directly to San Diego communities and the ‘trenches’ through homelessness experts and community mayors,” said Dene Oliver, chair, leadership council.  “These experts and political officials will be critical in the success of the plan.”

For further information about the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness or the two-day conference, contact Hannah Cohen, consultant, United Way of San Diego County, at 760/738-6975, 760/715-6975 or hsc1@cox.net.

The United Way of San Diego County, City of San Diego and County of San Diego have entered into a joint agreement to promote the development of San Diego's Plan to End Chronic Homelessness for the region.  The plan will provide a coordinated and consolidated approach to reducing the number of chronically homeless people in the region, thus preventing second- and third-generation homelessness. It will maximize existing systems and save resources by developing a plan that will make San Diego more successful in accessing its share of available local, state, federal and private funding.

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With an emphasis on the City’s urban core neighborhoods and low and moderate income residents, the City of San Diego’s Community and Economic Development Department strives to improve the quality of life and ensure a healthy economy in San Diego through job development, business development, neighborhood revitalization, public improvements, redevelopment, social services, and revenue enhancement.