Burnham Community Dialogue: Addressing Homelessness in San Diego

This year’s Regional Task Force on Homelessness Point-in-Time Count found 10,605 people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County, a 3% increase from last year. With rising housing costs and economic challenges, many of our neighbors are struggling to find safe and stable shelter. As a community, we must come together to understand the context of the crisis and explore actionable solutions.

You're invited to join this essential community dialogue hosted by the Burnham Center for Community Advancement and the Lucky Duck Foundation. This event will provide a unique opportunity to:

● Gain a deeper understanding of the journey and some of the misconceptions about the unsheltered population, as we hear from community members who have experienced homelessness share their stories.

● Learn about the local landscape of homelessness and innovative strategies.

● Explore the important role philanthropy and other sectors (can/must) play in creating lasting change.

Since 2005, The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) has raised funds and awareness for numerous charitable causes throughout San Diego. In 2017, due to the growing homelessness epidemic, LDF pivoted to focus on providing aid and relief for individuals and families suffering from homelessness. Since then, LDF and its co-founders, Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny, have funded, activated, and led several high-impact programs that prevent and alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County, including bridge shelters, employment and job training, research, and more. The name is a nod to the Kilkenny family's Irish heritage and the University of Oregon Ducks. The premise is simple: if you have had some good luck and fortune in your life, share your luck with those less fortunate. And, all donations are matched by Pat & Stephanie, up to $1.5 million per year.

The Burnham Community Dialogue is a speaker series that will help us build a common space where issues of the day come to light and where we can hear from regional and global experts and share our diverse and inclusive views.

We are fortunate to present our expert panel:

• Lisa Halverstadt, Sr. Investigative Reporter, Voice of San Diego (Moderator)
• Dijana Beck, Director, Office of Homeless Solutions, County of San Diego
• Josh Coyne, VP of Policy & Civic Engagement, Downtown San Diego Partnership
• Eric Dargan, Chief Operating Officer, City of San Diego
• Tamera Kohler, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Task Force on Homelessness
• Drew Moser, Chief Executive Officer, Lucky Duck Foundation

Host or Publisher Burnham Center for Community Advancement