The city of San Diego is grappling with a significant increase in homelessness following the closure of the Rosecrans Shelter, leaving many unhoused individuals without access to vital services.
In May 2025, unhoused residents made 2,216 requests for shelter beds, but only 128 requests were granted, according to data from the San Diego Housing Commission. This represents a drastic six percent bed placement rate for the month.
The Rosecrans Shelter, which offered 150 beds primarily for individuals with severe behavioral health issues, was closed after San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced that the city would no longer fund the facility. The decision was largely a response to a $258 million budget deficit in the current fiscal year, along with projections suggesting a deficit exceeding $300 million for the following year.
Mayor Gloria emphasized that the responsibility for the population served at the Rosecrans Shelter ultimately falls on the County, stating, “If we keep doing their job of providing for those suffering from mental illness, they’ll never step up.”
The mayor criticized the County for demolishing a building adjacent to the shelter, a move that disrupted essential utilities relied on by the facility. In light of these disruptions, Gloria indicated that the closure would result in a significant net increase in the number of individuals living unhoused on the streets, correlated to the number of those displaced from the Rosecrans facility.
Despite efforts from County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer to secure $800,000 for new utility setup at the shelter, Mayor Gloria declined to front the costs, further complicating the situation for those in need of shelter.
As a consequence of the closure, shelters across San Diego have ceased accepting new clients to accommodate displaced individuals from the Rosecrans Shelter. This has led to nervous uncertainty for many unhoused individuals seeking shelter, as the crisis continues to deteriorate.
Housing Commissioner Ryan Clumpner expressed concern about the impact of this closure on both those needing immediate shelter and those who previously accessed specialized services at the Rosecrans facility. Clumpner noted that the immediate effects include taking beds away from new referrals, ultimately leading to a lower level of service for vulnerable individuals.
“Long-term, it’s a reduction in our capacity to provide shelter with services to high-need people on the street, particularly those dealing with mental health challenges,” Clumpner remarked, underscoring the ramifications of the shelter’s closure.
The situation is likely to worsen as the city of San Diego is awaiting a decision from state lawmakers regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to eliminate the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program (HHAP). This program provides San Diego with approximately $14 million annually.
Mayor Gloria warned that the potential termination of HHAP would have immediate and damaging effects, resulting in the loss of 426 shelter beds, including 52 designated for youth, as well as 13 full-time Street Outreach Workers.
“This loss would significantly increase the number of people left on the street instead of providing them with safe shelter and access to essential services,” Gloria lamented. “This situation represents a gut punch to the progress my city has made.”
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