August 22, 2025

In July 2025, the City of San Diego and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) launched a one-year, first-of-its-kind pilot agreement to address homelessness along state-owned freeways near downtown. This partnership authorizes city crews and law enforcement to clear encampments on a five-mile stretch covering I-5, SR-163, and SR-94 including neighborhoods such as Little Italy, East Village, and Barrio Logan.

The program enables outreach teams to connect individuals with shelter and housing resources while removing trash and debris to improve safety and public health. Caltrans will reimburse the city up to $400,000 for cleanup and outreach efforts and encourages better coordination across state and local agencies. The initiative aligns with Governor Newsom’s model encampment ordinance and San Diego’s “unsafe camping ordinance,” which has already contributed to a significant reduction in downtown homelessness—from 2,104 individuals in May 2023 to 756 in June 2025. Executive Director of Public Affairs Justine Murray recently spoke in support of the agreement recently, emphasizing its potential to improve community safety and economic vitality by addressing homelessness in key urban corridors that have a direct effect on the local economy.