GRAND JURY: NO MONEY FOR FOOD AT CITY'S HOMELESS CENTER

May 31, 2014 (San Diego)—The San Diego County Grand Jury has issued a report, “Give Me Shelter” on Connections Housing, a downtown homeless shelter. While the center has made a “good start,” the report found,  there are still many people in the City of San Diego living a marginal life.  While the report found some positive strives and praised a dedicated staff,  a press release issued by the Grand Jury also states that “it appears that more money is put into staff salaries and the public relations aspect than the programmatic aspect of services for the homeless. No money is earmarked in the budget for food purchases, although the kitchen and food services are obligated to provide breakfasts and hot dinners for up to 150 residents per day.” Instead the program relies entirely on donated food.

Connections Housing combined the efforts of several organizations, including People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) and the Alpha Project, and has benefited from the food donation program of Urban Angels. The center had its grand opening ceremony on March 11, 2013.

The purpose of Connections Housing is to reduce street homelessness within a quarter-mile radius of its 1250 Sixth Avenue location. It has 134 interim beds, 16 special housing units for the medically frail, and 73 permanent studio apartments. The goal is to provide appropriate housing, counseling and job readiness services to the residents through the PATH Depot.

Although not able to meet all of its first year goals and promises, the overall claim to reduce homelessness in the immediate neighborhood has been met. The purpose of the Grand Jury report is to reveal and make transparent the many threads that are part of the Connections Housing project.

The Grand Jury found some problems in the delineation of responsibilities between PATH and the Alpha Project with respect to the interim and special housing unit residents. It also found that easier access to the community room, vending machines, and the Family Health Center is needed.

The Grand Jury commended Urban Angels for its generous contribution of food to the interim residents.

The complete report can be found here or on the Grand Jury’s website: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/grandjury .