A homeless person sleeps on the ground at a park near Old Town on July 17, 2024. / Ariana Drehsler for Voice of San Diego
A homeless person sleeps on the ground at a park near Old Town on July 17, 2024. / Ariana Drehsler for Voice of San Diego

The intertwined problems of homelessness, mental illness and drug use are among the San Diego region’s most vexing challenges.

Despite billions in state and local spending, new laws and a parade of elected officials pledging to solve the problem, too many people remain on San Diego’s streets and too many pleas for help go unanswered because services aren’t available.

At our Politifest public affairs forum on Oct. 4 at University of San Diego, we’ll explore one especially urgent part of this problem: What do we do when people with behavioral health problems refuse treatment?

Panelists include Paul Armstrong, chief of staff and vice president of the San Diego Rescue Mission, Dr. Aaron Meyer, professor of psychiatry at the University of San Diego and chief behavioral health officer for the city of San Diego and Tara Stamos-Buesig, founder and CEO of the San Diego Harm Reduction Coalition. They’ll present their unique solutions, ranging from compelling people to receive treatment, to eliminating bureaucratic roadblocks that hinder person-centered care, to boosting peer support and other compassionate approaches.

You won’t want to miss this one. Get tickets here.

Jim Hinch is Voice of San Diego's South county reporter.

Join the Conversation

2 Comments

  1. I have made 200 USD reliably in one day. That was my ideal day in my life and my boss was to a great degree content with me..T16 CNN is additionally awed from my work and is outstandingly happy.. check also unpretentious parts by open the affiliation and tap on HOME TECH OR MEDIA………

    Begin here…… tab on my name

  2. I have made 200 USD reliably in one day. That was my ideal day in my life and my boss was to a great degree content with me..T16 CNN is additionally awed from my work and is outstandingly happy.. check also unpretentious parts by open the affiliation and tap on HOME TECH OR MEDIA………

    Begin here…… tab on my name

Leave a comment
We expect all commenters to be constructive and civil. We reserve the right to delete comments without explanation. You are welcome to flag comments to us. You are welcome to submit an opinion piece for our editors to review.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.