Whatever San Diego is doing is not working

Re “Homelessness in San Diego County rose 22 percent last year. More of them are women, seniors and veterans” (June 8): The front-page, above-the-fold article in the U-T shows how poorly we are handling the homelessness situation in San Diego County. How many of the 10,264 homeless people are San Diego County residents who fell on hard times? County residents should definitely be assisted to a better life, but I don’t think there are more than 10,000 San Diegans clogging the streets.

When the count is taken, it should be determined where the homeless people are from and if they come from out of the city, state or country, they should be offered a clean shower, clothes, a meal and a bus ticket back home. Florida is not the only state sending its problems here to live on our dole. It just got caught.

Why should San Diego taxpayers have to pay out millions of dollars to support non-residents when there are so many problems that need attention here at home?

Pat Mikuls

Lakeside

The mayor, City Council and Regional Task Force on Homelessness need to focus on reducing the homeless population, not increasing the number of spaces, motels and apartments for them.

San Francisco, where the problem has increased unchecked, has lost major retail businesses, is experiencing a 30 percent office vacancy rate and now is going to lose two major downtown hotels. San Diego can no longer call itself “America’s Finest City.” Unless San Diego corrects the problem, it will suffer the fate of San Francisco, which for many has become unlivable.

Bruce Oja

Oceanside