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Message from the President & CEO
SDHC Newsletter
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Yesterday, officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) visited San Diego for an update on the EnVision Center, which gives the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) the opportunity to help more San Diegans with low income work toward self-sufficiency.
Earlier this month, SDHC commemorated the grand opening of 160 new, affordable rental apartments, which this holiday season are providing homes for individuals and families with low income, including veterans who previously experienced homelessness.
In addition, San Diegans experiencing homelessness now have access to a variety of services to help them get back on their feet through the City of San Diego’s newly opened Housing Navigation Center, which SDHC administers for the city. Also, the San Diego City Council also acted to update the city’s Inclusionary Housing law to support the development of additional affordable housing.
I am pleased to share highlights of SDHC’s recent activities with you as our 40
th
Anniversary year draws to a close, and we look forward to the year ahead.
I am thankful for the many valued partners who work with SDHC to create innovative housing solutions and address homelessness in the City of San Diego.
On behalf of SDHC, happy holidays.
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HUD EnVision Center Visit
December 18, 2019
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HUD Awards Recognition to SDHC EnVision Center
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Representatives from HUD, including Regional Administrator Christopher Patterson, were in San Diego on December 18, to receive an update on the San Diego EnVision Center, a partnership between HUD, the City of San Diego, SDHC, and the San Diego Workforce Partnership.
During the meeting, we discussed how the Envision Center allows SDHC to work in partnership with HUD and community partners to expand the programs currently offered at the SDHC Achievement Academy to more San Diegans, providing opportunities for more families to become financially self-reliant.
The objectives of the SDHC Achievement Academy’s programs dovetail with the four areas of focus of the SDHC Envision Center: economic empowerment; educational achievement; health and wellness; and character and leadership development.
During the meeting, Regional Administrator Patterson, who oversees a region that includes multiple western states, including California, presented SDHC with a letter recognizing the work of the EnVision Center, which had a “soft opening” in November 2018.
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Bluewater and Stella Developments
Grand Opening
December 2, 2019
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158 New Affordable Rental Apartments Homes
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The grand opening of two adjacent SDHC partnership developments – Bluewater and Stella – celebrated the addition of 158 affordable apartments in the City of San Diego, including 87 permanent supportive housing units for individuals and veterans who have experienced homelessness.
California State Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer, San Diego City Councilmember Scott Sherman, SDHC Vice Chair of the Board Ryan Clumpner and I joined the developer, Affirmed Housing, and additional partners at the grand opening.
SDHC awarded 87 federal rental housing vouchers and close to $17 million in loans toward the two developments. These loans consisted of funds SDHC administers—HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awards to the City of San Diego, as well as the City’s Affordable Housing Fund.
SDHC also authorized the issuance of more than $19.5 million in tax-exempt Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds toward the Bluewater development, with the approval of the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego.
The development funds and vouchers SDHC awarded to the Stella development are part of HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO, SDHC’s homelessness action plan, which has created more than 8,400 affordable housing opportunities in five years for San Diegans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
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Inclusionary Housing Announcement
News Conference
December 9, 2019
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Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Updates Approved
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The San Diego City Council has approved updates to the City of San Diego’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, culminating efforts led by City Council President Georgette Gómez.
SDHC worked with the Council President’s office to facilitate meetings to obtain input from stakeholders and analyze the impacts of potential updates to the ordinance. SDHC administers the Inclusionary Housing Fund on behalf of the City of San Diego and monitors rental housing units to ensure compliance with the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
I attended a news conference the day before the City Council vote during which the revisions to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance were announced.
The updated ordinance will require new residential and mixed-use developments to include 10 percent of the on-site rental units as affordable housing for individuals with income up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Alternative compliance measures include the ability to pay a fee of $25 per square foot to support the development of affordable rental housing, development of inclusionary units off-site, rehabilitation of existing units, and land dedication.
These provisions will be phased in over five years, beginning on July 1, 2020. This will help increase the affordable housing needs of our city.
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Housing Navigation Center
News Conference
December 9, 2019
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City of San Diego’s Housing Navigation Center Opens
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The City of San Diego’s new Housing Navigation Center provides a centralized point of access for a variety of services for San Diegans experiencing homelessness.
San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer, SDHC, Family Health Centers of San Diego and several service providers announced the opening of the Housing Navigation Center at a news conference.
SDHC administers the contract with Family Health Centers of San Diego for the operations of the Housing Navigation Center.
Close to 30 organizations have entered into agreements to provide services through the Housing Navigation Center.
The Housing Navigation Center provides on-site intake, assessment, triage and referrals for permanent and longer-term housing opportunities. Family Health Centers of San Diego assists individuals experiencing homelessness to identify immediate housing solutions, provides crisis management, helps access mainstream benefits important to addressing issues impacting housing stability, and works with partnering agencies to link individuals with permanent housing and supportive service programs.
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We're About People
Established in 1979, the San Diego Housing Commission provides a variety of award-winning affordable housing programs and services that stimulate the local economy, revitalize neighborhoods, and impact the lives of low-income and homeless San Diegans.
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