The homelessness crisis in San Diego is an urgent matter that deeply affects the community, prompting a gathering of thought leaders at Voice of San Diego’s Politifest 2025: Solutions Showdown on October 4, 2025.
Three prominent speakers presented their solutions to address this pressing issue, emphasizing a mix of housing initiatives, transitional support, and the need for permanent housing.
Dr. Margot Kushel, a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco, centered her arguments around the pivotal necessity of housing as a solution to homelessness.
According to Kushel, the focus should be on those living in encampments who are particularly vulnerable, including individuals facing serious health issues.
She highlighted a successful initiative in Berkeley, where the city transitioned individuals living in their cars to non-congregate shelters, addressing a critical barrier to stability.
Those hesitant to leave their vehicles due to fear of theft were given the option of having their cars purchased by the city if they agreed to shelter.
Kushel stressed the importance of understanding the complex reasons behind individuals’ reluctance to accept shelter and the deep-seated ties they have to their current living conditions.
Failing to comprehend these challenges makes it difficult to assist those experiencing homelessness in navigating shelter options.
Kushel’s approach advocates for a holistic method where cities acknowledge and dismantle personal ties to street life before facilitating housing solutions.
In contrast, retired Marine Colonel Patrick “Paddy” Gough presented the concept of Sunbreak Ranch, a proposed homelessness triage center envisioned as a critical transitional space for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Gough underscored the need for immediate medical care and guidance, arguing that triage centers could provide lifesaving assistance while also identifying further needs for individuals.
He articulated that a secure transitional environment would allow those in crisis to receive essential help before moving to more permanent housing solutions, which typically require a longer wait time.
Emphasizing rehabilitation, Gough called for federal recognition of the homelessness crisis through a declaration of emergency, which would facilitate additional funding and resources to effectively address the problem.
The event concluded with Iain De Jong, CEO of OrgCode Consulting, being named the winner of the Solutions Showdown.
De Jong passionately declared, “Everybody we work with needs somewhere to live, something to do with someone to love,” setting the tone for his argument that permanent supportive housing represents a tangible solution.
He urged the city of San Diego to increase the availability of permanent supportive housing, advocating for the development of 2,500 units over the next five years through acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction.
De Jong posited that such housing solutions are critical not just for shelter, but also for recovery from various health issues, legal struggles, and addiction, which are often intertwined with homelessness.
While emphasizing the significant financial investment—estimated at $305 million for construction and $6 million in annual operating expenses for every 500 units—he argued that this upfront cost would ultimately yield savings.
These savings would stem from reduced public health and safety expenditures that arise from emergency interventions needed for individuals experiencing homelessness.
De Jong suggested utilizing public-private partnerships and social impact bonds as potential funding sources for this initiative, enabling investors to contribute to the funding of housing projects.
He noted that these housing units need not be newly built; they could include repurposed hotels or motels, further emphasizing that investing in housing translates to investing in community well-being, safety, and a sense of security.
As the homelessness crisis continues to affect San Diego, the ideas presented at Politifest 2025 highlight potential pathways toward effective solutions that could offer hope and stability to those most in need.
image source from：voiceofsandiego
