SAN DIEGO — The majority of the 1,881 homeless individuals who have died since 2018 on San Diego's streets and sidewalks were at least 45 years old at the time of their death, with at least nine being over the age of 80, according to records from the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.
Those records, which include only those investigated by the Medical Examiner's Office, show that nearly 60% of deaths in both the city and county of San Diego were those in their forties or over.
The data shows the difficulties for older homeless people to find adequate health care while navigating life on the street and in homeless encampments.
A closer look at the annual deaths shows that the vast majority of those who have died since 2018 have happened within San Diego city limits.
The data, obtained through a public records request, shows that San Diego County's Medical Examiner investigated a total of 682 deaths in the city of San Diego since 2018 compared to 498 for all other jurisdictions as well as unincorporated portions of San Diego County.
Records show that last year was the deadliest year for homeless individuals in San Diego, with at least 262 deaths reported citywide. That is compared to 156 deaths for the rest of San Diego County during the same period of time.
So far this year, from January through May, the Medical Examiner investigated 66 deaths for those identified without having a residence. Records show that 38 of those died within city limits.
When looking at the race or ethnicity of those who died while homeless, 1,137 were white, while 397 of those who died were Latino, 238 were Black.
Amie Zamudio and Joanne Standlee run Housing for the Homeless, a small non-profit that works to help elderly homeless individuals find shelter and get the medical care they need.
Zamudio spends much of her time at or around hospitals with the goal of helping elderly, medically vulnerable people get to where they need to go.
Zamudio tells CBS 8 that the region has faltered and continues to falter when it comes to caring for those who need support.
"San Diego is gravely failing to meet the needs of older adults experiencing homelessness," Zamudio said. "The elders have been excluded from congregates shelters due to not being able to complete Activities of Daily Living, incontinence, disabilities and a shortage of bottom bunks."
Zamudio has known many older homeless residents who have died alone and without care.
"Seniors are being exited from the hospitals in the middle of the night while the San Diego Homelessness Response Center is closed and the busses are not running," said Zamudio. "They are truly left with nowhere to go and are dying on our streets. This is ageist, neglectful and absolutely shameful."
On June 27, San Diego City Councilmembers approved the Unsafe Camping Ban, an ordinance that outlaws homeless encampments in city parks and near schools, as well as all other locations if shelter space is available.
The ordinance, according to Mayor Todd Gloria, is meant to improve the safety of those living on the street as well as the general public.
The city council approved the ordinance by a 5-to-4 vote Tuesday, June 13. It will go into effect on July 30.
