The City of San Diego announced the completion of a significant project to clear encampments from the San Diego River. In anticipation of the upcoming wet season, the multi-phase effort involved relocating individuals experiencing homelessness to various shelter options and removing approximately 78 tons of waste.
City representatives, in partnership with numerous organizations, provided temporary and long-term housing alternatives. This initiative also saw the placement of numerous individuals into permanent living situations while some await housing, “Thanks to these partners and our hard-working City crews, we were able to shelter individuals who have been homeless for a significant period of time, which will undoubtedly save lives ahead of rain and tides that will cause the river to swell,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria explained in the article by
Inside San Diego
.
Significant to this initiative was a collaboration that began in July, including outreach teams that took a client-centered approach, offering case management, resource referrals, housing navigation assistance, and shelter connections. The City’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department’s Program Manager, Ketra Carter, acknowledged the diverse needs of those living in the riverbed, “These are human beings who, like you and me, have different needs or challenges in life,” she told
Inside San Diego
.
Beginning the cleanup last Tuesday and concluding last Friday, the city also had the support of various departments and external agencies, with signs posted to deter unsafe camping, additional park rangers were deployed to the area to prevent the reforming of encampments, operations also addressed environmental concerns with Deputy Director of the Environmental Services Department Franklin Coopersmith emphasizing the commitment to maintain the area and avoid potential hazards posed by debris flowing into the ocean during heavy rains as stated in
Inside San Diego
.
Funded by the state Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) grant, the project demonstrates a comprehensive approach to handling homelessness and environmental conservation along the San Diego River. The ERF grant previously facilitated successful encampment addresses in East Village and City Heights, with the San Diego River project also engaging NAMI San Diego for continued support of the individuals transitioning out of the encampments.
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