San Mateo County Aims For 'Functional Zero' Homelessness

SAN MATEO, CA — Is it possible to end homelessness in under a year? San Mateo County is about to find out.

Last week, county executives announced the “2022: Our Year of Working Together to End Homelessness” initiative. By the end of the year, the county aims to reach “functional zero” homelessness, meaning that every county resident experiencing homelessness can be safely sheltered in an emergency shelter, or in temporary or permanent housing.

However, the initiative hopes to promote long-term solutions by focusing more on addressing the root causes of homelessness, rather than simply trying to shelter the unhoused. County officials plan to partner with residents, local employers, volunteer organizations, nonprofits, faith communities, as well as local, state and federal officials to produce a series of recommendations by September to reach functional zero homelessness.

The county also plans to launch a series of discussions and panels until September, when a set of action items will be presented at a final summit. The first virtual event, “Why Homelessness is a Countywide Issue”, will be held Friday from 10-12. Local health and education experts, in addition to nonprofit staff who serve the homeless, will discuss the impacts of homelessness on the unhoused, and present information on services available. Speakers include Dr. Frank Trinh, Supervising Physician with San Mateo County Health Department; Dr Kapil Chopra, Mental Health Medical Director and Superintendent Nancy Magee, San Mateo County Office of Education.

Register here for the free Zoom.

The county also recently broke ground on a new 240-unit Navigation Center in Redwood City that will provide both temporary housing and intensive services for individuals and couples. The center will focus more on case management, with the goal of moving each client into permanent housing.

The county has also purchased five former motels and hotels for conversion into permanent or temporary housing.

These properties are:

• Shores Landing, 1000 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood City: 95 units.
• The former Comfort Inn and Suites, 1818 El Camino Real, Redwood City: 51 units
• Stone Villa, 2175 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo: 44 units
• Coast House, 230 Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay: 51 units
• Pacific Shelter, 2610 El Camino Real, Redwood City: 74 units

Learn more and register for events at smcendinghomelessness.org.