San Diego County mayors, civic leaders unite for regional homeless response
Dante Ulanday - News Moderator 
Thirteen mayors and civic leaders from across San Diego County met Monday to coordinate regional responses to homelessness at the San Diego Rescue Mission‘s fourth annual symposium.
The closed-door meeting at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club in Solana Beach brought together representatives from all 18 cities in the county for the first time, marking what organizers called a historic shift toward regional collaboration.
“This symposium demonstrates what’s possible when we treat homelessness as the regional crisis it truly is,” said Donnie Dee, president and CEO of San Diego Rescue Mission.
The two-hour meeting focused on sharing proven practices, identifying service gaps and exploring new opportunities for regional collaboration that can deliver sustainable, long-term solutions, officials said.
The gathering builds on momentum from 2024, when participating mayors signed a declaration committing to joint action and launched a regional task force. On Monday, they signed a second declaration renewing their commitment to a regional strategy.
The rescue mission has expanded outreach efforts to Little Italy, Vista, Oceanside and soon El Cajon, directly connecting homeless individuals to services, officials said. Over three years, the organization has helped more than 800 people secure permanent housing through street outreach, emergency shelters and residential rehabilitation programs.
“Homelessness doesn’t recognize city boundaries, and neither should our response to it,” said San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond.
Participants included mayors from San Diego, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista, along with council members and other officials. The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians sponsored the event.
The rescue mission started the Mayors Symposium in 2022 to explore strategic ways the private and public sectors could work together to change the state of homelessness in the county.
