On July 14th, 2010, San Diego's Land Use and Housing Committee voted in support of a downtown shelter that would offer the one-stop convenience of a mall (if a mall were designed to help people move off the streets): mental health care, a job center, a health clinic, homelessness prevention services, a beauty salon and living space for up to 225 people.

The facility, known as Connections Housing, would be the city's first permanent shelter and be run by the non-profit agency PATH (People Assisting The Homeless).  Judging by the success of the PATHMall in Los Angeles — which will serve as a model for San Diego — the approach to combating homelessness would be an effective one.

The proposal for the homeless rehabilitation is now scheduled to go before the full City Council. Tell San Diego's City Council to vote in favor of the Connections Housing proposal and help ensure that the city's homeless community has the resources they need to find permanent housing.

Photo credit: Ivan Walsh