Homeless San Diego residents cope with heavy rains and flooding

The banks of the San Diego River and the areas around it are increasingly serving as a haven for many of the city’s homeless residents.

Some see it as an escape from the chaos of homelessness in downtown San Diego.

Unfortunately, recent hurricanes have turned this house into a floodplain.

“I holed up in Palm Canyon, next to the hotel, because I knew it was going to rain,” C.C. Brewer said.

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CC Brewer sits under her makeshift shelter outside the Fashion Valley mall to avoid the rain on January 17, 2023.

He has been homeless in San Diego for many years. In anticipation of heavy rains, he set off in search of drier and safer land.

“I set up camp near the road and was afraid of a landslide,” he said.

He spoke to KPBS while trying to stay dry under a makeshift tent and tarp outside the Fashion Valley mall.

This is one of the places in San Diego that was hit the hardest by the floods.

“When things are really bad, people are very enthusiastic about coming for services,” said Bob McElroy.

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A tattered tent on the banks of the flooded San Diego River on January 17, 2023.

He is the CEO of Alpha Project, a non-profit organization that provides services and shelter to the homeless.

McElroy told KPBS that the number of people living in high-risk areas such as riverbeds and canyons has increased.

His organization’s outreach groups helped connect people in these areas to their shelters during the storm.

“So, we’ve set aside a few beds in all four institutions for the people, and we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of sick people coming out of the riverbed,” McElroy said.

At least seven people had to be rescued due to flooding in the San Diego River.

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River Road in San Diego is completely flooded and cannot be driven on January 17, 2023.

Brewer said that others living in the riverbed branched off in search of higher ground.

He and McElroy agree that most homeless people want and need permanent housing. Without it, Brewer said, more people would end up in dangerous situations.

“There are always people who are the last to hear: “The floodgates are opening, run.” If they don’t know, they sit in their tents and suddenly this wall of water appears,” he said. “It happened several times. Luckily, I know I can’t be down there when it’s raining.”

While the heaviest rains have passed, the city’s Inclement Weather Shelter program will open Tuesday night and provide more than 100 beds, starting at four locations across San Diego.

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