An Assessment of Service Awareness for the Unhoused Population in San Diego County

Homelessness presents a growing public health crisis in San Diego, where individuals face significant barriers to housing, healthcare, and essential services. This study assessed awareness, utilization, and barriers to accessing social support services among individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown San Diego, Ocean Beach, and Hillcrest. A verbally administered survey was conducted with 46 participants, collecting demographic information and data on awareness and use of housing, medical, legal, food, and hygiene resources. Results indicated high awareness of available services (93.5%), including housing (82.2%), legal aid (84.6%), and medical care (75.0%). Despite this, systemic barriers limited utilization, with safety concerns in shelters, poor hygiene conditions in mobile services, and lack of continuity in medical care frequently cited. Most participants (91.3%) had been homeless for over a year, and 41.5% identified unaffordable housing as the primary obstacle to securing stable shelter. While food assistance was widely used (95.5%), healthcare services were primarily accessed through emergency and one-time care, limiting continuity. Findings suggest that improving the safety, accessibility, and quality of existing services is necessary to enhance utilization. Future research should focus on addressing unmet needs, optimizing service delivery, and evaluating policy interventions to improve outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness.