SAN DIEGO - A new report shows an increase in the number of people living on the streets of Downtown San Diego.
The non-profit Downtown San Diego Partnership says the count for August showed a record 1,609 homeless people in the area, the highest the organization has seen in the ten years it has been doing the monthly tally. Nearly 800 of the homeless people are camped out in the East Village, with the highest concentrations of encampments along Imperial and Commercial Avenues.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Partnership has urged the City of San Diego to do more about the homeless crisis, including opening more shelters. The organization has even provided funding for operating one of the three large tent shelters.
The count comes as the bridge shelter at the County Health and Human Services complex on Rosecrans Street has yet to open but San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's office says it will be open soon.