Nonprofit organizations in the San Diego region have been awarded significant funding to support efforts to address veteran homelessness. Through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs, San Diego-based nonprofits have secured more than $18 million to help homeless and at-risk veterans. 

This funding will go to three outstanding local organizations: Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, PATH, and Adjoin. They will use the funds to provide essential services, including rapid rehousing, case management, and support for finding permanent housing. These organizations play a vital role in ensuring that our veterans receive the care and resources they deserve. 

Addressing veteran homelessness is a collaborative, community-wide effort. By working together with committed city, county, state, federal and nonprofit partners, we can continue to make strides in supporting those who have served our country. I am grateful for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the dedication of these organizations who will use this funding to help our beloved San Diego veteran community. 

I remain committed to making San Diego a place where all veterans have a safe and affordable place to call home.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed SB 1361, a significant piece of legislation sponsored by the City of San Diego and introduced by Sen. Catherine Blakespear. This new law, effective Jan. 1, 2025, extends existing exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to include homelessness-service contracts executed by local governments. 

This means that vital services and shelters for those experiencing homelessness will no longer be delayed or blocked by legal challenges under CEQA. 

By cutting through red tape, we can provide faster and more effective support for our unsheltered neighbors.  

This law is another step forward in our ongoing efforts to combat homelessness and provide the necessary services to those in need. 

I want to thank Senator Blakespear for her leadership and partnership on this critical issue. I remain committed to working with state and local leaders to ensure we address the homelessness crisis with the urgency it deserves. 

Casa Familiar, in partnership with Hitzke Development Corp., has secured $33.7 million in funding from the State of California’s Strategic Growth Council for their Avanzando housing project in San Ysidro. This project will create 103 rental units — 101 of them reserved as income-restricted affordable — located near vital public transit routes, including the Trolley’s Blue Line and key bus routes. 

The City of San Diego is a sub-recipient of funding for this project and will enhance transportation infrastructure surrounding the development. Our planned improvements include creating ADA-accessible sidewalks and upgrading existing bike lanes. These enhancements will ensure that residents have safe and convenient commuting options.

Since taking office, my administration has helped secure nearly $75 million in Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) funding, which has already helped to build 293 homes. Casa Familiar’s Avanzando project is yet another example of how we’re working to create equitable and sustainable housing opportunities for all San Diegans.  

Tackling the housing crisis requires a collective effort, and this project is a perfect example of how the City and community partners like Casa Familiar can come together to make a real impact. By working collaboratively, we’re creating sustainable, equitable housing solutions that will benefit San Diegans for generations to come. 

The City’s most recent Community CARE event brought homelessness services to the Midway area. 

The resource fair offered behavioral health services and medical personnel, including San Diego County nurses and the Department of Veterans Affairs mobile medical team. 

Transitional housing assessments for seniors and youth were also conducted onsite. 

The County Promised Big Moves on Shelter. Years Later, It Hasn’t Delivered. (Voice of San Diego)

Accessory dwelling units coming to a Clairemont neighborhood (NBC 7 San Diego) 

County Unveils New Affordable Housing Mapping Tool (County News Center)