There is a long-term model proposed for dealing with San Diego’s homelessness crisis that doesn’t involve large-scale shelters built in or near residential neighborhoods.

At this time still lacking funding, it remains a concept on the drawing board. It’s called Sunbreak Ranch.

The notion is to construct a comprehensive, all-inclusive care facility for the homeless on 500 to 2,000 acres somewhere in a remote area removed from residential areas, like Miramar or Otay Mesa.

The plan to implement the concept can be found at sunbreakranch.com which states: “Sunbreak is designed to be a large-scale temporary ranch in the layout of the Old California Ranchos. It will be a creative, one-of-a-kind location featuring 35-plus amenities and benefits that strive to make the ranch the best possible temporary home for our homeless brothers and sisters, friends, and neighbors.

“Sunbreak Ranch is a central navigation center, designed to house people, identify their needs, and move them with care and proper treatment to more permanent housing or treatment centers. It is an emergency regional “triage center” where everyone in need will have a clean, healthy, safe, and secure place and bed.”

San Diego Community Newspaper Group spoke to local businessman and longtime Rotarian George Mullen (above), who has been championing the idea of Sunbreak Ranch for years.

“I’ve been a Rotarian for 40 years and I’ve always thought there must be a better way to help (homeless) people other than just giving them a meal,” said Mullen adding, “I’ve had this concept, a new approach where we can help people, in mind for decades.”

Of the current state of affairs with homelessness, Mullen said: “This isn’t a crisis – it’s a catastrophe. We don’t want to just keep letting people die on the street.”

Mullen said the name chosen for his hypothetical new homeless housing center is meant to convey “a new day, a new beginning,” offering the unsheltered an opportunity to voluntarily join allowing them to “take a deep breath and sort things out.”

Said Mullen: “It would be a large triage center providing services helping them get what they need and move them in the right direction.”

Of the current statewide homeless care model, Mullen said: “It’s been a complete failure. In California, we’ve spent $25 billion on homelessness, and it’s exploded everywhere. What we’ve been doing is not working.”

Mullen and others, like late NBA great Bill Walton, have been advocating for the creation of Sunbreak Ranch. But they’ve run up against a huge obstacle: money, and a lot of it, which would be needed to plan and implement such a facility.

However, that hasn’t deterred them. “This is too important a cause to step back on,” said Mullen who disagrees with the current megashelter model being advocated by the City. “[The City’s] going in the wrong direction,” Mullen said. “The things we’re doing all over town are just Band-Aids.”

What’s needed to make Sunbreak Ranch a reality?

“We need to get our civic leaders on board (with the concept),” answered Mullen. “We need to get buy-in from the mayor and the Board of Supervisors. We need leadership to go after this proposal. Let’s save our City, and save these folks.”