South County shifts focus from Housing First to treatment and shelter for homelessness

San Diego and neighboring South County cities are moving away from the Housing First model for addressing homelessness, according to Voice of San Diego. Housing First prioritizes rapidly housing homeless individuals without preconditions such as sobriety, but local leaders are increasingly emphasizing treatment, shelter, and enforcement strategies instead.

The Trump administration has sought to change federal homelessness policy by promoting treatment-first programs that require resolving addiction or mental health issues before housing. San Diego joined a multistate lawsuit opposing cuts to federal housing grants tied to Housing First, but local policy choices suggest a shift away from that approach.

Cities like Chula Vista, National City, and Imperial Beach focus mainly on clearing encampments and providing temporary shelters that encourage or require engagement with treatment programs. Permanent supportive housing units, a key component of Housing First, make up only a small portion of their efforts.

San Diego’s District 8 candidates have expressed skepticism about the city’s Housing First approach, with some advocating for addressing addiction before housing. Despite no outright rejection of Housing First, local policies reflect a preference for treatment and shelter as primary homelessness solutions in the region.