Unsheltered homelessness in downtown San Diego has reached a record high for five consecutive months. More than 1,900 individuals are living on the streets in downtown, up from approximately 600 only two years ago.
Dear Mayor Gloria and Members of the San Diego City Council,
I am writing to urge you to protect — and expand — shelter capacity in San Diego.
When 9 out of 10 requests for shelter go unfulfilled, reducing shelter capacity moves our city backward. The proposed reduction in capacity and eventual closure or relocation of the 16th & Newton bridge shelter is especially alarming: this 326-bed facility has served more than 7,900 individuals and helped over 1,000 transition to permanent housing. We need more beds, not fewer.
The math is also clear fiscally. Unsheltered homelessness costs an estimated $42,000 per person annually in emergency, healthcare, sanitation, and public safety expenses. New beds at Rachel's Promise or elsewhere are welcome, but only if they represent a true net increase, not a swap that leaves overall capacity unchanged.
I stand with the Lucky Duck Foundation in supporting shelter expansion across San Diego. At a time of budget shortfall, collaboration between the City, philanthropy, and service providers is more essential than ever. And the Lucky Duck Foundation's willingness to bring its own resources to bear makes them an invaluable partner.
Please prioritize a meaningful net increase in shelter capacity so more vulnerable San Diegans can move off the streets and toward stability.
Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
Concerned Lucky Duck Foundation Supporter
The mission of the Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) is to prevent and alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County. LDF and its co-founders, Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny, have funded and activated bridge shelters, employment and job training programs, winter coats that transform into sleeping bags, life-saving food and water distribution, trash clean-up, and more. The name Lucky Duck Foundation honors the Kilkenny family's Irish heritage and their love for the University of Oregon Ducks. The premise is simple: if you have had some good luck and fortune in your life, share your luck with those less fortunate. To encourage this, Pat & Stephanie personally match all donations up to $2 million per year.
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LDF Leadership includes Peter Seidler, Dan Shea, co-founders Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny, and many other business and civic leaders dedicated to following best practices.
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