SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego City Councilmembers are raising concerns after reports that 21 people have died in city-run safe sleeping sites in San Diego since opening in 2023.
“It’s not acceptable for anyone to die in the city’s care, and it certainly can’t ever be acceptable for us to know that deaths occur on a somewhat regular basis and that we’re not changing the way that we’re doing business there,” said Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera.
The data was shared during a city council discussion on the Community Action Plan on Homelessness Monday.
The city is spending $280 million in Fiscal Year 2026 to fight homelessness.
“What I’m struggling with is efficiency and accountability and who’s actually in charge,” said Councilmember Henry Foster III during the meeting.
Other data shared included:
More than 6,000 shelter beds/units are still needed to meet 2029 needs and goals.
More than 1,500 resources are needed each year for interventions such as prevention and diversion.
The city said it served 10,775 people experiencing homelessness in 2019. So far in 2026, it has served 14,769 people, a 37% increase. The city said that overall homelessness is higher than the 2019 baseline it tracked.
The average length of time people are remaining homeless is increasing, from an average of 771 days in 2019 to 980 days in 2026 — a 27% increase.
More people are exiting homelessness and going into permanent housing than before. An increase of 36%, from 4,616 people in 2019 to 6,279 in 2026.
Fewer people are returning to homelessness: a slight decrease of 0.7% in 2019 compared to 2026.
(Credit: City of San Diego)
“You don’t need a report to know that the city needs to do better when it comes to homelessness,” Councilmember Elo-Rivera said.
Elo-Rivera said prevention and diversion are wise investments, but he still has frustrations over how this crisis is being handled, and said sometimes there have been things done “that look flashier” but aren’t proven.
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