SUPERVISORS TO CONSIDER THREE IDEAS TO HELP THE HOMELESS

By Miriam Raftery

June 13, 2017 (San Diego) -- The Board of Supervisors will look at ideas next week designed to help get the homeless into homes.  County Supervisors Ron Roberts and Dianne Jacob unveiled the three initiatives to spur the building, renovation and acquisition of affordable housing and stem the growing tide of homelessness.

Seven years ago, the County launched Live Well San Diego.  Now County leaders are looking to jump start affordable housing. One idea is to create a $25 million investment pool to fund affordable housing.  Another is to transfer $500,000 from Roberts’ Neighborhood Reinvestment account to the county’s Health and Human Services Agency to underwrite pre-development and planning activities.

“It’s a hand up, not a hand out,” Says Supervisor Dianne Jacob, noting it’s particularly important to help people get off the street and help people from becoming homeless, especially seniors.

Supervisors will also consider using 11 county properties to help the homeless.

Over 9,000 people are homeless in San Diego County, up  5 percent over last year, according to the Point in Time homeless county done in January.  The biggest spike was in downtown San Diego, where homeless soared 27 percent, while homelessness in East County rose by 3 percent.

Supervisor Ron Roberts concludes, “We are trying to make a real difference.”