The recent numbers from the 2025 Point-in-Time Count (PIT) Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) report showed a 7% decrease in San Diego County homelessness for 2025 compared to a year ago. The data was gathered during the annual event of volunteers, outreach workers, and county staff hitting the streets to talk with the homeless.
According to the report, the City of San Diego saw a 14% reduction in homelessness for 2025 compared to last year.
While the drop is encouraging, there is still much to do to get more people off the streets, out of their vehicles, and living safer and more enjoyable lives.
Still too many people living unsheltered
On the occasions that I am downtown, I still see tents, sleeping bags, people without any protection curled up on a sidewalk, etc.
Given the homelessness issue did not happen overnight, it won’t be solved overnight.
With that in mind, here are some ways to more progress on this all-important issue:
More affordable housing — We often hear of “affordable” housing being built for San Diego. Defining what is considered “affordable” can be the tricky part. According to apartments.com, the average rent for an apartment in San Diego is about $2,340 a month. Meantime, the national average is approximately $1,625. When people say that more “affordable” housing is coming, how affordable is it to rent?
Better paying jobs — Depending on your line of work, you might be making good money or living paycheck to paycheck. If the latter, making your monthly rent alone can be a struggle. More jobs with livable wages would likely make a dent in the homeless population. When you add up your rent or mortgage, health insurance, auto costs if you drive, credit cards, food, and more, bi-weekly or monthly pay can go fast.
Tackling underlying problems — How often do you see people living on the streets and wonder if they have alcohol, drug, or mental health issues like depression or anxiety? Such issues can prove a roadblock to getting off the streets. It is essential to provide even more support in this day and age. That is many programs in place to help the less fortunate are being cut or eliminated. That glimmer of hope to reverse course and change one’s lifestyle can make all the difference.
Accepting some people do not want better living conditions — Finally, accept that some people like life on the streets. While that may seem strange to many, some individuals want and like the freedom of living unsheltered. Trying to force someone into a living situation will oftentimes backfire. As long as the individual is not a public nuisance, you have to accept that they do not want to pay rent on a property they do not own and play by the rules if you will.
While there is no simple fix to San Diego’s homelessness issue, things may finally be going in a direction where more people will ultimately have a place to call home.
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