Workforce housing and affordable housing for seniors are both vital.
Senior Housing
The Alvarado Senior Village is a proposed senior housing project in Fallbrook. This week, the County awarded $6.1 million to partner with constructing this 54-unit facility. This is vital as this project will house very low-income seniors in need.
Also, late last year, we voted unanimously to establish a rental subsidy pilot program for seniors who are at risk of becoming homeless.
The Pilot Shallow Rental Subsidy Program will provide a monthly rental subsidy of $500, paid directly to the landlord of a low-income senior San Diegan.
To qualify, an applicant must be at least 55 years old and the head of household. The applicant’s household income may not exceed 50% of the area median income, and the household must be severely rent-burdened, which is defined as paying more than 50% of household income towards housing.
The application window will open soon and rental subsidies will be paid starting in March of 2023. If the pilot program is successful, the County will pursue additional funding opportunities to support the sustainability and expansion of the program.
Workforce Housing
Back in 2021, I was on hand for the groundbreaking of Villa Serena- National Core’s workforce housing project in San Marcos. The 85 affordable housing units included 8 units for young adults along with those aging out of the foster care system within the affordable housing development. If you’re interested in pre-registering for Phase 1, you can do so here.
Phase 2 is will begin construction soon and this week the County announced they will be allocating $6.6 million to help construct this 63-unit project.
Finally, the Breezewood Apartments is an existing housing development that will be receiving project-based housing vouchers to support the residents to remaining stability housed. The housing voucher allows the residents to pay 30% of their income for rent with the voucher covering the balance of the rent.
Plant A Tree
The County of San Diego manages over 156 facilities and 56,000 acres of parkland. Trees are valuable assets to the park system and make parks more desirable to the public.
Every year, the Department of Parks & Recreation plants at least 3,500 trees throughout San Diego County. This is a great program and this week the Board of Supervisors approved legislation to advertise and award contracts for the tree program.
If you’d like to get involved in planting a tree at a County park, please let me know! My office can help connect you with the County Department of Parks and Recreation.
New Op-Ed
In case you missed it, my latest op-ed received national attention. It is clear, the overwhelming majority of San Diegans do not want to be taxed for every mile they drive.
I’m going to continue to speak out against this tax and hope you will join me in the fight!
San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond
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