Dozens of people marched peacfully and harmoniously in the streets of downtown Saturday morning in an effort to raise awareness about housing solutions for the local homeless population.
The "March of Voices" event began with a step-off featuring the San Diego Women’s Drum Circle, followed by a huge sing-along at Faultline Park in the East Village. The group then marched to City Hall, led by the Euphoria Brass Band.
The final stop of the march ended with a news conference, highlighting the March of Voices' proposed solutions to address homelessness in San Diego. Organizers of the movement believe every San Diegan deserve a safe place to live.
Steph Johnson, founder of Voices of Our City Choir, said he's disturbed by the homelessness he sees in San Diego.
“I kept seeing people on the street that were suffering. Literally dying in front of me when I walked into a restaurant, and I thought what’s going on in our city?” Johnson told NBC7.
Jeff Hays, a homeless San Diegan, says that it’s fundamental that everyone have a safe place to live.
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“What we need is sustainable, affordable housing. That gives us stability, and allows us to progress in our lives. You can’t get a job with no mailing address,” Hays told NBC 7.
Hays has been homeless for more than a year, after losing his job. Unable to find work, he ended up on the streets after going through all of his savings, and using up all of his unemployment benefits.
“It's unbelievably stressful to not have a place to live,” Hays added. “There is no security. And people who have been out here for a while are damaged by it."
There are 5,093 homeless people in the city of San Diego according to the San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless.
The march took place two days before a San Diego City Council meeting, where on Monday, solutions to combat homelessness will be presented and heard.
March of Voices organizers will be attending the meeting and have organized a presentation on a variety of solutions to end homelessness.
