>> THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE BEING TREATED FOR SERIOUS, THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST WINTER SURGE.

HE SAYS THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO NEED MEDICAL HELP.

>> WE HAVE 250 HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS TODAY VERSUS THE 600 WE HAD A YEAR AGO.

WE ARE NOT NEAR THE CAPACITY WE WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR NOR ARE OTHER FACILITIES.

>> Reporter: THE MEDICAL CONTEXT IS FILLING THE SURGE THAT HAS MORE THAN 600 POSITIVE COVID TESTS AMONG STAFF MEMBERS IN THE PAST WEEK.

>> FROM THE VERY FIRST PATIENT WE HAD, WHEN THE FIRST ONE LANDED UNTIL NOW, THIS HAS BEEN WHERE I HAVE BEEN THE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE WE SIT.

IT IS JUST BECAUSE EVERY DAY IT HAS BEEN GOING UP.

>> Reporter: 196 STAFFERS HAVE HAD POSITIVE TESTS IN JUST THE PAST 24 HOURS.

SAN DIEGO FIREFIGHTERS HAVE CUT BACK ON SERVICES BECAUSE OF INFECTIONS AND ALL OF THE COUNTY'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS ARE WRITING ANOTHER WAVE OF INFECTIONS LINKED TO THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE OMICRON VIRUS.

ERIK ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>> AMID THAT SURGE IN CASES, CALIFORNIA IS EXTENDING THE INDOOR MASK MANDATE FOR ANOTHER MONTH.

IT TOOK EFFECT ON DECEMBER 15th AND NOW IT WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL AT LEAST FEBRUARY 15.

MASKS MUST BE WORN IN ALL INDOOR PLACE US PUBLIC SETTINGS.

>>> SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS RECEIVED RELIEF TODAY AND THEIR DESPERATE SEARCH FOR HOME TEST KITS.

KPBS EDUCATIONAL REPORTER VISITED AT FIRST COME FIRST SERVE DISTRIBUTION SITE.

>> Reporter: THIS TRUCK IS HEADED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LOADED WITH COVID-19 AT HOME ANTIGEN RAPID TEST KITS.

THE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCORED BIG.

THEY WERE SOME OF THE LUCKY ONES.

>> THE RESPONSE IS OVERWHELMING.

WE HAVE 42 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 130S CHARTER SCHOOLS, A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPETING FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF TEST KITS.

>> Reporter: BASED ON GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S PROMISE, THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION REQUESTED 500,000 TEST KITS TO COVER STUDENTS HERE.

THEY GOT 193,000 OF THEM IN THESE BOXES DELIVERED LATE TUESDAY.

THE WORD WENT OUT AND WITHIN MINUTES THEY WERE ALL RESERVED AND THEN DISTRIBUTED ON A FIRST- COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS TODAY.

HECTOR CORONA IS THE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOL IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO WHICH HAS 512 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE SURGE THAT IS GOING ON WHERE DOING THE BEST WE CAN.

WE ARE MAINTAINING THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND WE ARE HERE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: DISTRICTS THAT DID NOT GET SUPPLIES TODAY ARE NOW ON A WAITING LIST FOR A FUTURE DELIVERY WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS.

NANCY HENSLEY SHOWED UP MISTAKENLY THINKING SHE COULD GET A RAPID TEST FOR HER 8-YEAR- OLD SON.

>> SOME PEOPLE IN OUR HOUSEHOLD CAME UP POSITIVE AND WE NEED TO SEND HIM BACK TO SCHOOL SO I WANT TO TEST HIM AGAIN TO MAKE SURE HE IS OKAY.

>> Reporter: THE CONFUSION HAS FORCED EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO CHANGE DIRECTION CONSTANTLY.

PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR IS NOW AS IMPORTANT AS LEARNING.

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED HAS PUT A PAUSE ON AFTER CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID.

A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT IN PART, AFTER CONSULTING WITH THEIR MEDICAL EXPERTS AND LESSEN THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS OMICRON VARIANT, THE DISTRICT HAS INSTITUTED A POLICY TO ATHLETIC PRACTICES THROUGH THE REMAINING OF JANUARY.

THE DISTRICT RECEIVED AS RAPID TEST SHIPMENT BEFORE WINTER BREAK.

THESE VALUABLE BOXES ARE ON THEIR WAY TO OTHER STUDENTS AROUND THE COUNTY, WAITING TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE COVID OR NOT.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE SPRING SEMESTER WILL BE STARTING ONLINE WHEN CLASSES RESUME THIS MONTH.

TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS THE SURGE IN CASES RACING AFTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

THE SEMESTER STARTS ON JANUARY 19th AND WILL REMAIN TEMPORARILY VIRTUAL THROUGH AT LEAST FEBRUARY 4th.

IN-PERSON CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED TO START ON FEBRUARY 7th.

ACCORDING TO GUIDELINES, ALL STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO GET A BOOSTER AND HAVE IT ON FILE BY JANUARY 18th TO BE CONSIDERED FULLY VACCINATED.

THEY HAVE ALSO ASKED STUDENTS WHO LIVE ON CAMPUS TO DELAY THEIR RETURN UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH IF THEY CAN.

3 TENSION AND CONCERN OVER THE OMICRON VARIANT AS HUNDREDS OF SCHOOLS CLOSING THEIR DOORS.

THE TEACHERS UNION CALLS FOR REMOTE LEARNING UNTIL THE SURGE RESIDES.

MORE NOW FROM OUR REPORTER ON THE FRUSTRATION BY PARENTS.

>> Reporter: QUEBEC NUMBERS ARE SURGING NATIONWIDE.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE NOW AT 113,000 ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

>> THIS COULD BE OUR NEW NORMAL GOING FORWARD.

EVERY YEAR OR EVERY FEW MONTHS, WE COULD BE SEEING THESE BASSES SEARCHES OF CASES.

>> Reporter: IN D.C., STUDENTS MUST HAVE A NEGATIVE TEST BEFORE WE TURNING ON THURSDAY.

DETROIT IS GOING VIRTUAL UNTIL JANUARY 14.

>> THAT IS THE SAFEST THING TO DO.

WE ARE HAVING AN INFECTION RATE EXCEEDING 40% RANGE.

>> Reporter: CHICAGO CLASSES ARE CANCELED AFTER THE TEACHERS UNION DEVOTED TO GO VIRTUAL.

THEY CONSIDER IT A WORK STOPPAGE AND TEACHERS WILL NOT BE PAID.

THE TEACHERS UNION DOES NOT BELIEVE THE CURRENT MEASURES IN PLACE ARE SAFE ENOUGH TO RETURN TO SCHOOL.

>> WE HAVE BEEN FAILED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE AND WE DECIDED THAT THE ONLY THING WE HAVE CONTROL OF IS WHETHER WE RETURN TO THE BUILDINGS.

FOR MAC THEY INSIST ON GOING TO CLASS IN PERSON IS SAFE.

THE BARNETT ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED FUNDING FOR RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY BELIEVE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE FOR KIDS TO GO BACK.

>> PARENTS WANT SCHOOLS OPEN AND EXPERTS ARE SURE THAT IN PERSON IS BEST FOR KIDS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND FOR THEIR EDUCATION.

>> Reporter: KPBS NEWS.

>>> AC/DC ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS VOTED TO EXPAND BOOSTERS FOR CHILDREN AGES 12-17 AT LEAST FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE PRIMARY VACCINATION SERIES.

THE FDA SPENT AT THE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE AGE GROUP ON MONDAY.

THE CDC HAS NEW GUIDELINES ON ISOLATION.

COMING UP, WE WILL BREAK DOWN THE REVISED RULES AND NEW CONCERNS.

>>> NEARLY ONE YEAR SINCE THE INSURRECTION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL, ATTORNEY GENERAL IS VOWING TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE RESPONSIBLE.

>> WE WILL DEFEND OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS FROM ATTACK.

WE WILL PROTECT THOSE WHO SERVE THE PUBLIC FROM VIOLENCE AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE .

WE WILL PROTECT THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO EVERY ELIGIBLE CITIZEN TO CAST A VOTE THAT COUNTS.

>> 2000s STORMED THE CAPITAL BUILDING ON JANUARY 6 IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CERTIFICATION OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS COMMITTED TO PROSECUTING ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED, WHETHER THEY WERE PHYSICALLY THERE OR NOT.

>>> AND ICONIC LANDMARK IS GETTING SOME MUCH-NEEDED REPAIRS THANKS TO A GENEROUS DONATION BY A LOCAL ORGANIZATION.

HERE IS OUR REPORTER.

>> Reporter: THE HISTORICAL SITE WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT IN 1769 IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

THE 93-YEAR-OLD MUSEUM IS IN NEED OF RESTORATION.

>> NOT LONG AGO THIS BUILDING WAS STARTING TO SHOW ITS AGE.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR SAYS THE MUSEUM IS VITAL IN KEEPING SAN DIEGO'S HERITAGE ALIVE.

>> THIS RESTORATION WILL HELP ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO COME TO THE SITE AND UNDERSTAND THE HISTORIC HISTORY.

>> Reporter: THE FOUNDATION IS MAKING SURE THAT HAPPENS AND GIVING THE SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER $330,000 TO RESTORE THE NORTH TOWER IN EAST SIDE OF THE JUNIPERO SERRA MUSEUM .

THE FOUNDATION WAS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO GRANT THE AWARD AS THE SITE IS A SACRED PLACE FOR MANY.

>> I HAVE A BIT OF A SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART FOR THIS LOCATION.

MY WIFE SARAH AND I 43 YEARS AGO WERE MARRIED ON THE HILLSIDE AT A FOOTBRIDGE.

>> Reporter: THE RESTORATION WORK WILL BE COMPLETED BY MID- FEBRUARY AND WORKERS ARE ALREADY ON SITE AND WORKING ON THE NORTH TOWER.

OFFICIALS DID NOT WANT TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE DURING TODAY'S CEREMONY.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> T-1 IS MAQUILADORAS HAS FLOURISHED.

WHAT IS BEHIND THE RESURGENCE.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE SOUND OF T-1 IS BEAMING INDUSTRY.

THESE TRUCKS CARRY EVERYTHING TO TOYOTAS ASSEMBLED JUST OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.

EACH ONE IS A SIGN OF WHAT IS A NEW BORING 20 WHICH IS MANUFACTURING ALONG THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

>> THIS IS THE MOST DYNAMIC TIME PERIOD WE HAVE HAD IN THE MAQUILADORAS INDUSTRY FOR DAIQUIRIS.

>> Reporter: THEY BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE 1980s.

>> THE INDUSTRY WAS BORN REALLY IN THE 70s AND GREW SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE 80s AND THE 90s AND THE 2000s IT WAS A BIT OF A CHALLENGING PERIOD WITH CHINA COMING IN TO THE WTO AND ENJOYING CERTAIN TRADE BENEFITS WITH CUSTOMS AND DUTIES.

A LOT OF MANUFACTURERS MIGRATED TO CHINA.

FOR MAC OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THOSE COMPANIES ARE COMING BACK.

>> WE HAVE SEEN REVERSE MIGRATION FROM ASIA TO MEXICO AS COMPANIES REALIZE THEY NEED TO BE CLOSE TO THEIR CLIENTS WITH THE U.S.

BEING THE NUMBER ONE MARKET IN THE WORLD FOR EVERYTHING VIRTUALLY.

YOU WANT TO BE THE CLOSEST PLACE YOU CAN BE AND ENJOY SOMEWHAT OF A LOW COST RELATIVE TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

MEXICO IS DEFINITELY YOUR CLOSEST CHOICE TO GET INTO THE U.S. MARKET.

>> Reporter: THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT SAVING MONEY BY SHIPPING AND MANUFACTURING AWAY FROM NORTH AMERICA AS A BAD BET.

THIS MAN WITNESSED FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

>> THAT PRODUCT WAS NOT ABLE OR RIGHT HERE IN MEXICO OR IN THE U.S.

IN TIME.

ALL THE OPERATIONS GOT DELAYED AND IT WAS A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE COMPANY.

NOW THAT THEY SAW THAT, WE MAY HAVE THESE BENEFITS, WE NEED TO STAY CLOSER.

>> Reporter: THE FASTEST GROWING PART HAS BEEN FULFILLMENT CENTERS.

UNDER SECTION 321, COMPANIES DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FEES AS LONG AS THEY SHIP ITEMS WORTH $800 OR LESS DIRECTLY TO U.S. CUSTOMERS.

INSTEAD OF SHIPPING IN BULK, THEY ARE SETTING UP SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

THE CENTERS ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER TIJUANA.

COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO, THE GROWTH HAS BEEN -- >> 10 TIMES AT LEAST.

WE KNOW IT WILL GROW MORE.

>> Reporter: SHE WORKS FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPERS IN THE REGION.

IT IS DRIVEN BY HOW WE SHOP AS MUCH AS THE DISRUPTION IN THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> WE USED TO GO TO A SHOPPING CENTER PHYSICALLY, BUT NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN LOCKDOWN OR NEED TO BE AT HOME AND THERE IS MONEY STILL COMING THROUGH.

THEY ARE BUYING THINGS FROM HOME AND YOU NEED A STRUCTURE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

THAT IS WHY TIJUANA CHANGED A LOT IN TERMS OF NOT HAVING FULFILLMENT CENTERS.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE BULLISH ON THE MARKET.

THE DEMAND IS HIGH AND THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS DO NOT SEEM TO BE GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

>> UNLESS THERE IS A CHANGE OR UNLESS THERE IS A SPECIFIC CATASTROPHIC THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL EXPENSE GROWTH IN THE SECTOR.

>> Reporter: THERE IS ONE ROADBLOCK, TIJUANA'S ROAD STRUCTURE.

THEY NEED ROSE TO TRANSPORT GOODS ACROSS THE BORDER.

HISTORICALLY THEY HAVE NOT INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND I COULD COME BACK TO HAUNT THE CITY.

>> WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS A LOT OF GOODWILL FROM GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS PEOPLE TO PUT ON AND INVEST FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CITY.

THERE IS NO MORE SECURITY AND EVERYTHING THE CITY NEEDS FOR THE GROWTH.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, EXPECT THE TRUCKS TO KEEP ON ROLLING.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> POWERLINES SPARKED THE DIXIE FIRE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHICH BURNED NEARLY 1 MILLION ACRES LAST SUMMER.

IT STARTED LAST JULY AFTER A TREE HIT A DISTRIBUTION LINE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA'S.

IT DESTROYED MORE THAN 1300 HOMES AND OTHER BUILDINGS.

PG&E ALREADY SET UP EQUIPMENT AND IS FACING LEGAL ACTION FOR OTHER FIRES.

>>> CONSERVE WATER OR ELSE, THAT IS THE MESSAGE FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD.

THE NEW MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE FINED FOR WATERING THEIR LAWNS AND 48 HOURS OF A RAINSTORM.

THE FINES COULD BE AS MUCH AS $500 AND WILL BE ENFORCED BY LOCAL OFFICIALS.

GOVERNOR GASTON'S.

>>> THERE IS A BIT OF A BUMPY RIDE AHEAD WITH SOME TEMPERATURE SWINGS.

WE WILL WARM UP NICELY HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK.

NO MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST EITHER BUT A LITTLE BIT OF SOME CLOUD COVERAGE.

IT IS A MAINLY DRY FORECAST.

TEMPERATURES FALL BACK DOWN TO ABOUT 50 IN SAN DIEGO, 44 OUT TOWARDS MT.

LAGUNA.

THURSDAY IS A FAIRLY QUIET DAY.

THE STORM TRACK STAYS OFF TO OUR NORTH AND TEMPERATURES WILL GET INTO THE 60s.

65, SAN DIEGO.

FRIDAY, IT IS A NICE AND WARM DRY HERE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST.

WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MOISTURE GETTING INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

ELSEWHERE, NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OR WORRY ABOUT.

OUR NEXT FIVE DAYS, TEMPERATURES WILL WARM UP A LITTLE BIT AND THEN COOL OFF ON SATURDAY.

AFTER THAT, WE WILL BE WARMING ON UP.

WE CAN SEE SOME CLOUD COVERAGE HERE THIS WEEKEND.

NEXT WEEK WE WILL TURN MORE TO A COOLER PATTERN.

HEADING INTO SUNDAY, WE ARE BACK UP INTO THE LOWER 70s AND HAULED OFF INTO THE LOWER 70s HERE FOR NEXT WEEK.

A LITTLE BIT OF INCREASE CLOUD COVERAGE FOR THIS WEEKEND.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, TEMPERATURES GO FROM THE 50s INTO THE LOW 40s BY SUNDAY.

THE UPPER 50s WILL START OFF ON MONDAY WITH PLENTY OF SUNSHINE.

IN THE DESERT, TEMPERATURES ARE NOT CHANGING A WHOLE LOT HERE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.

A LITTLE BIT THIS WEEKEND BUT NOT AFFECTING OUR TEMPERATURES.

I AM METEOROLOGIST JESSICA PASS.

>>> THE REVISED GUIDELINES ARE CAUSING SOME CONFUSION.

MANDY GAITHER BREAK DOWN THE LATEST.

>> Reporter: AS CASES REACH A RECORD HIGH, OMICRON IS FUELING THE FIRE .

IT ACCOUNTS FOR 95% OF U.S.

INFECTIONS.

>> THE COMING WEEKS WILL BE CHALLENGING.

>> Reporter: MOST OF THE VIRUS SPREAD HAPPENED EARLY, TYPICALLY 1 TO 2 DAYS BEFORE TO SYMPTOMS START.

IF YOU TEST POSITIVE, THE CDC RECOMMENDS YOU ISOLATE FOR FIVE DAYS.

IF YOU ARE ASYMPTOMATIC, THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY FIVE DAYS OF WEARING A MASK AROUND OTHERS.

IF YOU ARE IN VACCINATED OR NOT BOOSTED, QUARANTINE FOR FIVE DAYS AND MASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DAYS.

IF YOU CAN'T ISOLATE YOURSELF AND THOSE INITIAL FIVE DAYS, IN THE EXPOSED PERSON SHOULD WEAR A WELL FITTING MASK WHEN AROUND OTHERS FOR 10 DAYS AFTER EXPOSURE.

IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A RAPID TEST, THE CDC SAYS TAKE IT AT OR CLOSE TODAY FIVE AFTER EXPOSURE.

IF THE TEST IS POSITIVE, YOU ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN ISOLATED UNTIL 10 DAYS AFTER THE SYMPTOMS STARTED.

IF YOU'RE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, YOU DO NOT NEED TO VACCINATE ISOLATE BUT SHOULD WEAR A MASK AROUND OTHERS FOR 10 DAYS AFTERWARDS.

>> GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE.

WEAR A MASK.

STAY HOME WHEN YOU'RE SICK AND TAKE A TEST IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS.

>>> OUR NEWSROOM IS FOLLOWING THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PANDEMIC AT KPBS .ORG.

>>> HOW MS. INFORMATION STILL THREATENS OUR DEMOCRACY ONE YEAR AFTER THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL.

TO MAKE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE REPORTING A DROP BUT ADVOCATES SAY THE DECLINE IN THESE NUMBERS IS NO CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.

>> Reporter: EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL IS REQUIRED TO GET THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED.

IT IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

AS A NUMBER OF UN-HOUSED STUDENTS STEADILY DECLINED DURING THE PANDEMIC, ADVOCATES SAY THE DATA THAT IS MATCHED WITH WHAT THEY ARE SEEING ON THE GROUND.

CHALLENGES WITH REMOTE LEARNING AND UNRELIABLE INTERNET CAUSE SOME STUDENTS TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL AND FALLOFF ENROLLMENT LISTS.

ON TOP OF THAT, IDENTIFICATION OF HOMELESS STUDENTS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.

STEPHANIE RECENTLY GRADUATED.

DURING HER HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, SHE AND HER FAMILY STRUGGLED WITH STABLE HOUSING.

HER FAMILY TRY TO HIDE THEIR SITUATION FROM THE SCHOOL.

>> A LOT OF IT WAS JUST THE STIGMA OF IT.

FOR ME, THERE WAS A FEAR OF GETTING IN TROUBLE IF PEOPLE FOUND OUT THAT WE WEREN'T BEING OVERLY TAKEN CARE OF OR IF WE DIDN'T HAVE STABLE HOUSING.

IT WAS A FEAR THAT WE MIGHT GET TAKEN AWAY.

>> Reporter: HOMELESSNESS IS NOT ENOUGH OF A REASON TO GET OUT PROTECTIVE SERVICES INVOLVED.

STUDENT ADVOCATES SAY THE FOSTERING TRUST BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IS KEY GOING FORWARD.

SOMETHING THE PANDEMIC AND GROWING FEELINGS OF ISOLATION HAVE MADE EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.

>>> FOR MORE ON THIS STORY YOU CAN GO TO OUR TREND ON ONE.ORG.

>>> SOME VISITORS WILL SEE SOME COLORFUL ELECTRIC BIKES.

>> Reporter: SIMILAR TO OTHER BIKE-SHARING PROGRAMS, IT IS UNLOCKED IF THERE IS A PHONE APP.

THIS PROGRAM HAS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE.

>> ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT PROVIDES FOR A MUCH NICER EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH THE WRITER AND JUST THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE CYCLIST MUST RETURN THE BIKE INTO A DOCKING STATION TO COMPLETE THE RIDE.

>> YOU WILL NEVER HAVE BIKES ABANDONED IN FRONT OF BUSINESSES OR SIDEWALKS AND INTERSECTIONS.

>> Reporter: THE BIKES ARE FOR ADULTS 18 YEARS AND OLDER.

IN OTHER CITIES, THEY FOUND WAYS TO RIDE BUT THESE HAVE SAFETY LIMITATIONS.

>> WE HAVE THEM LIMITED TO 50 MILES PER HOUR.

WE ARE JUST ENCOURAGING SAFE CYCLING.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR HOPES THIS TRIAL WILL EXPAND TO OTHER CITIES.

>> MY HOPE IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A LOT MORE THAN 65 BICYCLES, THAT WE CAN DOUBLE THAT AND WE WILL HAVE IT NOT JUST AT OUR STATION BUT ALL ALONG THE CORE DOOR AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE MONTHLY PASSES WHERE THEY CAN GET ON THEIR BICYCLES AND RIDE INTO WORK AND THEN RIDE BACK TO THE TRAIN STATION OR TO THE BUS OR HOWEVER THEY'RE GETTING THEMSELVES BACK HOME.

THIS WILL BE PART OF THEIR COMMUTE.

>> Reporter: MONTHLY AND ANNUAL PASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE.

TANIA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.