San Diego Task Force Brings In New Leader To Tackle Homelessness

Thursday, June 22, 2017

By City News Service

Gordon D. Walker, who gained national attention for his efforts to reduce homelessness in Utah, is the new chief executive of San Diego's Regional Task Force on the Homeless, the organization announced Thursday.

Walker, who started with San Diego's RTFH on Wednesday, was previously director of Utah's Division of Housing and Community Development. He has also served as deputy undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Reagan administration.

He was a leader in the housing-first model of addressing homelessness, in which those living on the streets are placed in a residence coupled with access to necessary social services. Utah saw a significant drop among the chronically homeless, though the actual numbers have reportedly come into question.

"It is clear from Mr. Walker's track record that he is the effective leader we need to build this organization," said San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who also chairs the RTFH. "He has the skills to steer us on a path that delivers both short-term and long-term progress that will be visible to the public and change lives for the better."

Walker stepped into a situation in San Diego County in which the number of unsheltered homeless has jumped 23 percent over the last five years to around 5,600.

In the Task Force's annual count of the homeless in January, the total number of those in shelters or living on the streets was 5 percent higher than 2016's tally, to more than 9,100.

"I'm excited to join the Regional Task Force on the Homeless and help contribute to developing strategies that will reduce homelessness in San Diego County," Walker said. "During the interview process, and through my own research, it became clear that the will and energy exists here to house the homeless in greater numbers."

San Diego city and county officials have recently taken several steps on the twin issues of homelessness and a lack of affordable housing.

On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors directed $25 million in reserves to a new affordable housing investment pool.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer recently announced a dozen steps meant to make it easier for builders to construct more residential units for middle and low-income families, and the City Council held its first meeting of its Select Committee on Homelessness.

The Council, however, recently rejected Faulconer's proposal to raise hotel room taxes to fund an expansion of the San Diego Convention Center — which would have also created a dedicated funding stream for homelessness programs.

National Housing Expert Hired as CEO of New Regional Task Force on Homeless


Walker Led Efforts That Reduced Chronic Homelessness 90% in Utah



Source: County News Service

June 22, 2017 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless (RTFH) has selected Gordon D. Walker as its new chief executive officer.

Walker most recently served as director of Utah’s Division of Housing and Community Development where he gained national attention for his efforts to reduce homelessness.

The Los Angeles Times reports in an article today that Utah has reduced its chronic homeless population by 91 percent.

From 2005, when Utah state officials began placing people in permanent housing, there were 1,932 chronically homeless people. Today, nearly all of those are housed, with only 178 chronically homeless people in the entire state of Utah – and officials have their sights set on soon bringing that number down to zero through an approach that is compassionate, not punitive.

How? By putting housing first, with the idea that having shelter allows bodies and minds to heal after living on the streets, with other services provided later for those who need more help, such as with mental illness, job training or drug addiction. Individuals pay $50 or a third of their income, whichever is higher, to help with the housing costs.

This model could be challenging in San Diego, which has among the nation’s highest housing costs, though the minimum wage here is also higher than in Utah.

But Walker has voiced optimism at the prospective of helping to alleviate homelessness here and make San Diego live up to its slogan as America's Finest City.

“I’m excited to join the Regional Task Force on the Homeless and help contribute to developing strategies that will reduce homelessness in San Diego County,” said Walker.

“During the interview process, and through my own research, it became clear that the will and energy exists here to house the homeless in greater numbers. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting started.”

Walker served as Deputy Undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Reagan administration. He holds an MBA degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and received his undergraduate degree in economics from Brigham Young University.

Officially formed in March, following the merger of two regional homeless agencies with insufficient planning structures, the RTFH is responsible for developing a data-driven regional plan that helps bring regional homeless service providers in 18 cities and the unincorporated areas into alignment.

“It is clear from Mr. Walkers’ track record that he is the effective leader we need to build this organization,” said County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who also chairs the RTFH.

“He has the skills to steer us on a path that delivers both short term and long term progress that will be visible to the public and change lives for the better.”

Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) issued the following statement regarding the hiring of Gordon Walker, a Republican who worked under former President Ronald Reagan, as CEO of San Diego County’s Regional Task Force on the Homeless:

“One only needs to drive the streets of downtown San Diego to see that homelessness continues to be a serious issue in our city. What San Diego County has needed most in its battle against homelessness is regional leadership with a singular focus. With Gordon Walker taking the helm of the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, we appear to be heading in the right direction. It will require system-wide cooperation and hard work, but I am hopeful that San Diego will soon see results similar to what Mr. Walker achieved in Utah.”

Walker was selected from a field of national candidates by the RTFH Governance Board’s executive committee that included Supervisor Roberts; San Diego City Councilman Chris Ward, vice-chairman; Father Joe’s Villages CEO Deacon Jim Vargas, treasurer; Karen Brailean, secretary; and Housing Commission CEO Rick Gentry, past chair of the RTFH governance board. The search committee included Joel John Roberts, CEO of PATH; Pastor Rolland Slade; and Nancy Sasaki, executive director of Alliance Healthcare Foundation.

His official start day was June 21, 2017, and his salary will be $160,000.