The new ban on homeless encampments in the city of San Diego officially goes into effect next week.
But there are a lot of concerns about whether it will significantly reduce the problem of homelessness, especially in the downtown and East Village areas.
The new law says that there must be enough shelter beds available in order to remove homeless people from the streets, sidewalks, parks and other places where they exist.
The number of people in San Diego who are homeless has been growing despite the efforts to create new shelters. Almost every time a new report comes out, the count of homeless people goes up and the number of people finding housing is less than the number of new people who become homeless.
It remains a growing problem due to the other problems it leads to regarding public health and public safety.
But finding answers to reducing and ever really solving the problem of homelessness has been and continues to be as elusive as trying to patch a leak in a boat that keeps springing more leaks to keep it from sinking.
But our city and community leaders must keep hope afloat because it is a problem that we all must help to solve.
(Photo Getty Images)