Community Definition and Identity
San Diego South Region (SDSR) includes five cities and unincorporated areas within San Diego County: National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Coronado, and San Diego. It encompasses San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, and Nestor Mesa neighborhoods in San Diego, along with unincorporated areas like Bonita, Sunnyside, Lincoln Acres, and East Otay Mesa. Chula Vista is the largest city in SDSR and the second largest in San Diego County.
The community spans 155 square miles with a population of 496,613, representing 15.1% of the San Diego County population. It is bordered by the City of San Diego neighborhoods to the north, the U.S.-Mexico border to the south, mountains to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It lies within San Diego County Supervisorial Districts 1 and 3 and is served by the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).
San Diego South Region’s size and growth compared to other communities locally, regionally, and nationally from 2011-2022 is:
South Region
· 496,613 – Residents
· 9.2% - Population Increase
County of San Diego
· Fifth largest county in the United States
· 3,289,701 - Residents
· 7.5% - Population Increase
State of California
· 39,356,104 – Residents
· 6.5% - Population Increase
United States
· 331,097,593 - Residents
· 8.0% - Population Increase
SDSR, a vibrant and collaborative community near the U.S.-Mexico border, embraces diversity and inclusivity. With a strong family orientation, it fosters bi-national exchanges and collaboration. Despite SDSR being among the most economically disadvantaged regions in the county with one of the highest proportion of Hispanic residents (62.1%) and one of the highest proportions of children and young adults aged 0 to 24 years old, SDSR is action-oriented, focusing on addressing behavioral/mental health, homelessness, and food insecurity through the Live Well San Diego South Region Community Leadership Team (LWSD SRCLT) collaborative body. This approach aligns with the Live Well San Diego (LWSD) vision of a region that is building better health, living safely, and thriving.
Key Advantages and Challenges
| Advantages | Challenges |
|---|---|
| Access to over 560 LWSD partners | Increased housing costs |
| Recreational and engagement opportunities | Homeless rate increased by 27% from 2022. |
| Established relationships with community partners and stakeholders who live, work, and/or have listed experience in the SDSR | Behavioral and mental health rates increased in the areas of suicide and opioid overdose |
| Strong collaborative partnership in all zip codes and with different stakeholders, including cities and other public officials | Food insecurity rate is 28% |
| Regional and binational collaboration | Shortage of housing for renters and homebuyers |
| Close partnership with key resident groups, resident leadership academy (RLA), and CHWs | Overcome distrust between people and government agencies |
| New shelter developments | Knowledge and access to social and support programs for those most in need |
| Welcome Center for immigrant and refugees | Unique needs of the residents who live and work in SDSR, different zip codes, and as part of a binational region |
| Emergency responses |
