San Diego County Organizations Working To End Homelessness

It's that time of year again when the weather turns cold and our attention turns to those living on the street. According to the annual point in Time count during contested -- 8700 people were identified as being homeless throughout San Diego. Actually there appears to be a significant increase since then. A number of tenths on downtown San Diego sidewalks has grown and so has the waiting list for shelters. We have in studio leaders of two programs working with the homeless. Herb Johnson is president and CEO of San Diego rescue Mission. Thanks for joining us. We have christenings and CEO and founder of solutions for change which operates year-round programs. Thanks for being with us. I would ask both of you how you have seen the demand for your programs increasing censorship. Our facilities are always hundred percent filled for the demand is higher. Emergency shelter is topped out. We take in 80 brothers and kids every night, pages 65 days a year. The horrible statistic is in the last quarter we turned away I've hundred 20 mothers and kids that we didn't have room for. That's an emergency shelter. One night at a time. 77 program. That is a huge jump over the last year. It's the waiting lists, the people you have to turn away. Digital to turn people away last year? We turn them away but it's not at those numbers. Chris, what about you. What about solutions for change? We are longer-term program in your selective about who you choose. What have you seen about the number of people who apply. We focus hundred percent on homeless family. Your homeless mother, child with children, you qualify. We are helping families of the streets of litigating that into housing and jobs. And back in the community. Not very long ago, I was telling you we had 30 families are witness. Now it's over 300. With over 300 families currently trying to get into solutions for change. It's a very sad, very serious problem we're facing. Seat on the streets but typically see the families. They are in cars, tents, living in back of church parking lots. Is huge problem. Very lament for the Both of you are talking about families but that's not the whole homeless population. This whole other segment of veterans, people suffering from mental health columns, drug abuse. I able to offer than any help? We have a large men's program for 200 the 460 or so in our building every night. That's a big part of the population is set off a cliff families but it's not on mainstay. Are these other populations increasing or would you say the families are the ones increasing the most? I think all populations. Time is going in right now. The Chris, you serve families mostly. That's quite a big commitment, to your program. Refining at the end of that when you spent two years working with them that it's difficult to find places for them, even after all the work you have done? It's 1000 days. That's almost 3 years. It's a three year program. It's a much different. We are trouble users. We're looking at innovative ways, how do we get to the root of this problem? What are we talking about? We're talking about multi-generational poverty. Addiction issues. Lots of unemployment and a whole host of other things. Those are the issues we have to deal with as part organization because if we don't help people resolve that, chances are, they will have relationships break down and they will lose their kids will be back on the streets. It's a 1000 days to permanent solution. We created this engagement called the solutions University. We're talking about education, skill building, everything from financial proceed to parenting classes. What does this family need? To solve this problem. So they can get out the turn. In and out of services, in another shelters, as families go through the churn, it's racking up huge costs as a society. There been a lot of studies. One gentleman on the streets and cost him from 60 $220,000 a year in public interventions. First one of our reporters that actually also using kids with autism coming in who have a hard time dealing with the threat is in close quarters. Was telling Chris, we just did our emergency shelter.'s room entry. We're broke for a few years. With a quiet room from others were lactating. UN streets the brand-new baby. Mention that. It's also for autistic kids. We are seeing the overnight emergency shelter. Mention trying to be on the street with an autistic kid, or your breast-feeding care. All case command. Just want to hit one thing. That was charmed -- charm. Coming back for services. Last weekend, it took us five years to do it. We have an aftercare program. We try to stay in touch with folks graduated from the program. In the last two years with the new director, we have 600 people graduated. They can come back and 14 up. So don't get too far away from things they learned while they were in the program. That's really proving to be a nice secondary touch. We don't have any more time but I want to ask both of you apart from controlling money organizations working with the homeless, what can people do to contribute to this? Are the Lamb's second step up? Money is king for me right now. He will say the same thing. Money coming out of political campaign has really hurt us. We're off by six or four figures. It's a lot of money out of the market as a result. Send Espo checks. I want to mention the county is looking for people to volunteer for the annual homeless count in January for the days January 27 and volunteers are being sought all over the county. That's another possibility for people who want to be part of the solution. Thank you for coming in. Herb Johnson, president and CEO, San Diego Rescue Mission And Chris Megison,founder and CEO, Solutions for Change