Dear Friends,

I wanted to take a moment to update you on the progress the County has made in addressing homelessness in the unincorporated area. At the North Magnolia Avenue homeless encampment, 64 people have been connected to housing since March 19th!

Despite these great efforts, the County continues to experience challenges in managing regional homelessness. That's why, this week, I asked the County's Chief Administrative Officer and the Sheriff's Department to take further actions to remove the individuals who remain in the encampment.

Other government agencies, such as the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have been able to clear out similar homeless encampments along public right of ways, as a safety precaution. I'd like the County to take similar action to address the ongoing health and safety risks at the N. Magnolia Ave. encampment.

I also wrote a letter to Governor Newsom, sharing my support for the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court. This program would allow court-ordered treatment for people with severe mental illness and drug addiction, which I believe is a necessary part of addressing homelessness. You can read more about this, and sign onto my letter, using the button below.

To ensure that all available resources are being brought to address the large encampment on N. Magnolia Ave. in the unincorporated area of El Cajon, I requested frequent updates from the County’s Office of Homeless Solutions. I have included their update below.

It's my job to make County government work for you. If there is any way my office can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to use the contact form on my website for the fastest response, email me at Joel.Anderson@sdcounty.ca.gov, or give me a call (619) 441-4327.

As always, it's an honor to serve you.

Joel Anderson

Supervisor, District 2

SIGN ONTO MY LETTER TO THE GOV.

Earlier this week, I sent a letter to Governor Newsom, expressing my support for his "CARE" initiative. This program would help local governments like San Diego County in addressing mental health and substance abuse disorders. Many people who struggle with severe addiction and mental illness end up on our streets, and this program could mandate treatments to stabilize people and get them into permanent housing. If you agree that this step is needed to address homelessness, please sign onto my letter of support below.

SIGN ONTO LETTER

UPDATE ON THE COUNTY'S EFFORTS ADDRESSING THE N. MAGNOLIA HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT

General Updates

Agencies On-Site Weekly:

Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS)
Department of Homeless Solutions & Equitable Communities (HSEC)
Live Well Mobile Office
Public Health Nurses
Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) Sheriff's Deputies
Home Start – City of El Cajon homeless outreach contractor
Department of Public Works
San Diego Homeless Outreach Partners
Equus – Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS, a County agency) contractor for housing vouchers

Updates from Agencies

Department of Public Works (DPW):

The week of 5/2/22, DPW removed relinquished trash and debris from people experiencing homelessness actively living in the encampment. At abandoned encampment areas, DPW stored personal property and cleared solid waste.

Sheriff's Department

HART deputies were on site all week and continue to provide assistance to outreach workers, transportation to individuals being housed.
Several mental health evaluations were conducted and Sheriffs provided referrals.
Deputies also assisted DPW cleanup crews while they removed garbage and hazardous waste.

In Case You Missed It

Supervisor Joel Anderson Wants County to Clear Magnolia Encampment | Voice of San Diego

“We cannot wait for someone to be injured or killed by a car before we take the next step to clear the tents that remain on this busy, dangerous street,” Anderson wrote in a corresponding press release.

Photo Courtesy of Voice of San Diego

East County cities weigh closer cooperation on homelessness as residents decry tent camps |

San Diego Union Tribune

“For far too long, we’ve been pushing the homeless down the street instead of off the street,” San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson said Friday at a news conference on Magnolia Avenue, across the street from more than a dozen tents. Without more local coordination, leaders will only be tempted to push people into another city instead of addressing root problems, he said.

SDUT_EastCountyCitiesWeighCloserCooperationOnHomelessness_042922.jpg

Photo Courtesy of San Diego Union Tribune

County supervisor says region will work together to address El Cajon homeless encampment | CBS 8

"Homelessness can’t be solved, in my opinion, by the county going it alone or the City of El Cajon going it alone or any other community going it alone. For far too long we’ve been pushing the homeless down the street instead of off the street," said Supervisor Anderson. "We still have a long way to go. This is not acceptable, but we’re making progress, progress that we hadn’t been making in the past," said Anderson.

East County tackling issues at homeless encampment | FOX 5

“We will work to marshal resources together and address this as a unified front so those homeless who are refusing help won’t be able to dodge services by simply changing jurisdiction — so that’s the goal,” said Anderson. “We’ve got tremendous resources over the last 60 days to knock down two-thirds, but this last one-third — these are people that we’ve offered resources to. They’re refusing and we need more tools for the tool belt.”

Supervisor Joel Anderson wants East County cities to work together to solve homelessness | KPBS

"Now, will some people still keep moving? Of course they will," Anderson said. "But, if El Cajon is out here with us, if Santee is out here with us, and we’re a united front, then we’re going to solve it."

Supervisor Joel Anderson hoping East County cities will work together to address homelessness | ABC 10

"This is a huge issue that we're all facing," said Anderson. "We're moving forward with an MOU with all cities involved, all so we're on the same page that we're not pushing people from one side of the county to the other but rather getting them off the street. Allowing businesses, customers, and employees to return to their normal schedule without living in fear."

Photo Courtesy of Mimi Elkalla, ABC10

Supervisor Joel Anderson

Office Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Email: Joel.Anderson@sdcounty.ca.gov

County Administration Center

Phone: 619-531-5522

El Cajon District Office

Phone: 619-441-4327

www.supervisorjoelanderson.com

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