News Summary
San Diego is bracing for rental aid cuts that could leave more than 460 households, including over 1,000 individuals, without essential support next summer. The Emergency Housing Voucher program, meant to aid vulnerable populations during the pandemic, may be withdrawn, causing alarm among city officials and impacting social safety nets. Recently, the City Council highlighted the urgent need for solutions as homelessness rates rise, while a new shelter for women and children, Rachel’s Promise Center, is set to open downtown to address increasing demand for such services.
San Diego Faces Rental Aid Cuts Threatening Over 460 Households, While New Shelter for Women and Children Set to Open
San Diego is facing a significant challenge as more than 460 households, impacting over 1,000 children and adults, are set to lose rental assistance from the federal Emergency Housing Voucher program by next summer. This program, which was established to provide critical support to vulnerable populations during the pandemic, was initially expected to remain in place until the end of the decade.
Lisa Jones, the head of the San Diego Housing Commission, highlighted serious concerns regarding families’ ability to maintain stable housing once this rental support is withdrawn. The San Diego City Council has recently heard public testimony addressing the escalating issue of homelessness, citing budget shortfalls and shifts in federal policies that threaten the integrity of the social safety net.
Currently, the Housing Commission supports approximately 17,000 households using federal funding, yet it is predicted that it could exhaust its reserves within two years. If this occurs, it would jeopardize financial assistance for an additional 900 households, with two-thirds of those reliant on this aid being elderly or disabled individuals.
Budget Allocations and Homelessness Challenges
The city’s latest budget proposal allocates about $56.2 million from the general fund to homelessness, maintaining a similar amount to what was allocated in the previous year. However, council members have voiced concerns regarding the sustainability of funding for homelessness against the backdrop of proposed cuts to essential city services. The ongoing relocation or conversion of the Homelessness Response Center into virtual services is projected to save approximately $481,000.
Additionally, a recent county initiative aimed at demolishing a nearby building will likely lead to the closure of the 150-bed Rosecrans shelter, with funding expected to terminate by summer 2025. In an effort to bolster support for veterans, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has voted to expand the “Leave No Veteran Homeless” initiative, which focuses on recruiting landlords willing to accept veterans with rental vouchers.
Since its inception, this initiative has aided around 1,200 veterans. By incorporating VASH vouchers as part of the program, the county seeks to help veterans manage their rental expenses, ensuring landlords receive fair market rates. However, supervisors have expressed apprehensions regarding potential federal budget cuts to the Veterans Affairs (VA) budget, which may compromise these important initiatives.
New Shelter Opening: Rachel’s Promise Center
In positive developments, a new shelter specifically for women and children, named Rachel’s Promise Center, is set to open in downtown San Diego. This facility will provide 50 beds, with plans to ultimately expand to accommodate 210 beds. Over recent years, the demand for shelter for women has soared, evidenced by an increase in women seeking these services—from 29.1% in 2020 to over 42% in 2024.
The operation of Rachel’s Promise Center will be overseen by Catholic Charities, with the initial four-month costs projected at $1.6 million and annual expenses expected to reach around $5.3 million thereafter. This new facility is intended to replace beds lost from the current Rachel’s Promise shelter due to upcoming redevelopment scheduled for June.
Looking Forward
As the need for housing assistance continues to grow, local leaders are actively exploring stopgap measures to mitigate the implications of the impending rental aid cuts. With rising homelessness rates in San Diego County, the urgency of these discussions has never been more pronounced.
As the situation evolves, stakeholders remain hopeful that collaborative efforts at local, state, and federal levels will lead to sustainable solutions that ensure the well-being of vulnerable populations in San Diego.
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Additional Resources
- Patch: Supervisors OK Continuing Program Addressing Veteran Homelessness
- San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego County Looks for Ways to Get More Homeless Veterans into Housing
- NBC San Diego: New Homeless Shelter for Women and Children to Open Next Week in Downtown San Diego
- Governing: 18 Homelessness Programs Face Cuts in San Diego County
- MSN: Hundreds of San Diegans Could Soon Be Homeless Without Continued Federal Aid, Officials Say
