Supportive Housing Monies Committed in San Diego

By Simonne Ruff

The Corporation for Supportive Housing’s (CSH) fundamental challenge has been to ensure that $100 million currently available to the San Diego region to prevent and end homelessness is not left on the table, as in previous years. San Diego Social Venture Partners worked with CSH to clearly focus on the critical success factors to ensure these monies are directed to housing for the homeless in San Diego - and the results of this hard work are already being seen locally.

San Diego is amongst the first counties in the State to have initial approval of $5 million in Mental Health Services Act funding and $3.5 million in state affordable housing funds for the Cedar Gateway project in downtown San Diego. This exciting project at 6th and Cedar is unique in that it mixes permanent supportive housing with affordable housing, a rooftop garden, commercial retail space and a rejuvenated St. Cecelia’s Chapel. Squier Properties, a for profit affordable housing developer, has worked collaboratively with the Centre City Development Corporation to take on the challenge of creating new units of supportive housing downtown. Squier Properties and CCDC are championing the cause to end homelessness in this showcase project.

The Corporation for Supportive Housing and SDSVP’s strategic planning work has brought to the table a new partner with significant development expertise, Squier Properties, for their first project in San Diego. Continuing to focus on critical success factors, such as engaging new partners in supportive housing development, will enable CSH to meet its three year vision of enabling 250 homeless individuals with disabling health conditions to exit the streets and remain housed for one year in sustainable permanent supportive housing. Social Venture Partners’ expertise in strategic planning and outcome measurement are key resources that are enabling CSH to meet this vision.