No one should have to live through what Shawn experienced during his years living on the streets of San Diego. For over a decade, Shawn endured the harsh realities of life on the streets— violence, thefts, uncertainty about where he would sleep each night, and constant worry. His time in Downtown, East Village, and Hillcrest left him with little hope for his future.

But in 2023, Shawn decided to try out our Safe Sleeping program, taking up temporary residence in one of the tents managed by our nonprofit partner Dreams for Change.

While the transition was challenging at first, the program’s support allowed Shawn to slowly rebuild trust, develop routines, and regain the confidence he had lost after so many years of instability. With time, he felt empowered to pursue a path toward permanent housing — something he hadn’t been able to consider in years.

Managed by Dreams for Change and the Downtown San Diego Partnership, our Safe Sleeping sites offer hundreds of tented spaces for people like Shawn who have lived in unsafe conditions on our streets for far too long.

For Shawn, the site was more than just a place to sleep—it was a lifeline. He was able to find stability, connect with housing navigators, and ultimately move into his own apartment. Shawn transitioned into housing a few months ago, and he is now enjoying his new home and the fresh start it represents. He is reconnecting with family, looking for a job, and feeling optimistic about his future.

Shawn’s story is just one of many from San Diegans who have moved from the streets to a stable environment through our Safe Sleeping Program. These sites provide not only a secure place to stay but also the services people need to move toward permanent housing.

Shawn’s journey reminds us that we must continue offering shelter options and services to those in need. By providing safe spaces, we are helping individuals take that first crucial step off the streets and onto the path of recovery and stability.