San Diego Housing Assistance, Homelessness Programs Facing Major Cuts

More than a dozen homelessness programs are facing cuts in San Diego County if federal funding and other revenue sources dry up, reports Blake Nelson in Governing.

As Nelson explains, “Service organizations have long had to rely on funding from a range of sources, from federal grants to one-off donations, making their work dependent on a patchwork of benefactors with differing rules and deadlines.” This makes it difficult for organizations to plan for long-term projects and retain staff.

In San Diego, experts estimate at-risk funds make up roughly $94 million, and local leaders are calling for more dedicated local sources of funding that don’t depend on outside support. According to Nelson, “The 18 programs facing possible cuts include initiatives that put up homeless residents in hotels (through the Regional Homeless Assistance Program), provide space to safely sleep in cars (Magnolia Safe Parking Program), clear encampments (Harmony Cleanup and Abatement) and help older adults on the brink of homelessness stay housed (Pilot Shallow Rental Subsidy Program).”