NONPROFIT PUSHES FOR LOCAL HOMELESSNESS GROUP
Supporters said panel could help council make decisions, spend funds
A Chula Vista-based nonprofit is urging the City Council to consider starting a commission on homelessness that they said would focus on problem-solving and providing oversight on dollars allocated to help those who are unsheltered.
About two dozen residents gathered Tuesday outside City Hall just before the council meeting to rally for what they said is a longoverlooked need to create a locally organized group that can help the City Council make fair decisions on how to spend money to address homelessness. They held signs that read “Action with compassion” and chanted “Human dignity is a right, that’s why we have to fight.”
The event was held by Community Through Hope, a nonprofit that offers homeless outreach and several programs such as food distribution, mobile showers and, most recently, medical care to those without permanent shelter.
“When we forget about this population, adverse, secondary effects occur. The next step we need to take is together. The question is: How can we work together from the sidewalk to dignity?” Rosy Vasquez, CEO and President of Community Through Hope, told council members during the meeting’s public comment period. “We
believe the answer can be found in this commission for the unsheltered homeless community.”
The commission, she added, would help the city “become as educated as possible regarding the unsheltered crisis” before investing money to address the issue. “It would assist the city in remaining on target using research to make the decisions that are best for this community.”
Sebastian Martinez, executive director of the nonprofit, said they would like to see the commission composed of community leaders, advocates and “actual experts to
help create solutions and recommendations for the city of Chula Vista, which we believe is in the middle of an unsheltered crisis.”
This group, Martinez said, could help Chula Vista officials in making decisions about an emergency shelter. Some who rallied criticized the city for choosing to withdraw from using a large tented homeless shelter it received last year in favor of pallet shelter units. The city is expected to unveil additional details at its Nov. 9 meeting.
Mayor Mary Casillas Salas said Wednesday she hopes those who rallied “come back and they learn
the facts from us about what’s happening in Chula Vista and our longstanding commitment to try to make things better for the homeless population.” She said the “tiny homes” concept offered “more dignity and privacy” than a tent, and is a better fit for the community.
As far as starting a local commission, the mayor said, “I don’t know what that’s going to do because there already are commissions for the homeless that we belong to and we participate in. This is a regional problem.”
The city estimates that there are currently more than 700 people experiencing homelessness in Chula Vista. In the 2020 point-in-time count, which tallies the number of homeless individuals on a given night, the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness reported 487 homeless individuals in South County who were either on the street or in some form of shelter. Of that total, 330 were in Chula Vista.
“Our numbers on our own data show that there’s probably 1,000 in Chula Vista and that number is growing every day. (Chula Vista) needs its own resources. We need our own emergency shelters. We need to help as many people as we can along the process,” said Vasquez.
At the rally was resident Laurie Blair, who said she’s concerned for what seems to be a growing number of people becoming or nearing homelessness.
“It’s also becoming to the point where you recognize people out there. There are people you see all the time that live here and, in our community, we have nowhere to send them,” she said.
The City Council was faced with packed council chambers Tuesday as not only those who rallied went to the meeting but dozens of seniors and renters attended, as well. Many voiced concerns about rising rents and fear of evictions, which would leave many to sleep in their cars, they said.
The mayor, who offered to connect with several of the individuals and connect them to resources, said what she saw at the meeting was “really heartbreaking.”