Thread by @LoriSaldanaSD

My response to today's Politics Report in #voiceofsandiego

I encourage #SupNoraVargas to increase funding for healthcare, behavioral and mental health services and provide more restrooms and showers for unsheltered #SanDiego residents living downtown
voiceofsandiego.org/2023/01/07/pol…

Providing medical treatment, counseling, and treating unsheltered/unhoused people humanely is the first step in preventing many of these "horror stories" and conflicts. Many people living on San Diego's sidewalks are survivors of abuse, assault, and violence.

Rape and domestic violence are a leading cause of homelessness for women and children. They need help to move past these experiences and PTSD behaviors that can be triggered by street experiences, and result in aggressive reactive behavior.

Perhaps these "educational establishments" can learn from Downtown's San Diego City College and other SDCCD campuses, that have been providing services & support for unsheltered students & residents for years. These campuses provide people with with free/low cost classes...

...free access to WiFi, bathrooms, showers, safe permitted parking, free food & clothing pantries, etc.

I taught for the District for 20 years, including 8 years at the Midway-area West City campus, near the Rosecrans @SDCountyHHSA facilities, before retiring in 2020.

That location continues to attract unhoused students & residents from nearby shelters and Veterans Village. Many enroll in free classes to be able to use the campus counseling services, WiFi, restrooms, seating areas, etc. during the day when most shelters are closed.

Finally, Carlos Cortez, the new #sdccd Chancellor, is a proponent of building up to 10K affordable housing units on SDCCD land.

So #supNoraVargas: Take note:
Many of these "horror stories" may be preventable if @SDCountyHHSA provides more medical & behavioral health services

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