Homeless people across San Diego County counted in annual pre-dawn census
The annual Point-in-Time Count surveys homelessness across San Diego County using volunteers assigned to mapped census tracts. Conducted before dawn, it provides a minimum estimate used to guide federal funding, though visibility limits mean some unsheltered individuals are likely missed.
Volunteer Group 12 spent the morning canvassing Allied Gardens, eventually locating multiple people living in vehicles. By the end of their shift, they had distributed all their supplies, offering brief moments of connection during the count.
“Gentrifica”: Song echoes through Arles’ winding streets
During France’s La Fête de la Musique, a choral group in Arles’ La Roquette neighborhood performed a protest song highlighting the effects of gentrification and rising tourism. As short-term rentals and outside investment increase, longtime residents say housing costs and vacancies are pushing locals out and eroding community life. Once a diverse, working-class area, La Roquette is increasingly shaped by seasonal tourism and second homes. Residents warn that without balance, the city risks losing its cultural identity to profit-driven development.
The state of homelessness: Examining criminalization and inaction by local government
After a devastating 2023 coastal storm destroyed beachside encampments, my encounter with a displaced unhoused man highlights the growing intersection of homelessness and climate change. While some rely on personal networks to recover, many lack support as rising sea levels and extreme weather increase risks. The piece contrasts limited action on the Central Coast with San Diego’s enforcement-heavy approach, arguing that displacement and criminalization worsen conditions. It concludes that homelessness must be addressed through housing, not policing.