Homelessness Working Group

The North San Diego Business Chamber is hosting a roundtable discussion for business leaders and owners, focusing on the critical issue of homelessness and its impact on the local business community. This roundtable will focus on the idea that homelessness is not a singular government or civic issue, rather a business issue.  It will aim to explore how homelessness affects businesses in the region, the challenges it presents, and the potential solutions that business leaders believe could help address and resolve this pressing issue.

Senator Catherine Blakespear will be joining to share insight into her recently proposed Senate Bill 569.  SB 569 would require the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to develop encampment resolution plans and establish advisory committees in each of its 12 administrative districts. In addition, it would make it easier for Caltrans to contract for assistance in clearing the encampments.

The legislation follows up on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2024 executive order that directed state departments and agencies to adopt policies addressing homeless encampments, treating Californians with dignity and respect. The bill creates a clearer path for Caltrans to help the Governor and cities achieve their shared goals.

Catherine Blakespear was elected in 2022 as the state senator for the 38th District, which represents northern San Diego County and southern Orange County. She previously served eight years in local government – six years as the Encinitas Mayor and two on the Encinitas City Council.

In her first two years in the Senate, Blakespear has focused on increasing the affordability and availability of housing, protecting the environment, improving public transportation, curbing the cost of living, preventing gun violence and countering climate change.

Blakespear sits on the Senate’s committees on governmental organization and transportation. She is on the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and Budget Subcommittee 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy. She is Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and Chair of the Senate Transportation Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency, which is tasked with improving support for the 351-mile rail line that runs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo and faces climate change threats. She also is on the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.