Tens of thousands of low-income San Diego families have added their names to local waiting lists in hopes of getting Section 8 vouchers to help pay the rent. The wait for those vouchers is only growing.
As our Lisa Halverstadt reports, five of the region’s six housing agencies haven’t pulled families from their waiting lists for tenant-based vouchers for months – and in some cases, even years.
Those agencies stopped handing out new vouchers as they faced surging rents and federal funding that increasingly isn’t matching up with those rising costs.
Now, facing the prospect of federal cuts, agencies serving the city and county of San Diego, Encinitas, National City and Oceanside are focused on ensuring families who already have Section 8 vouchers can stay in their homes. Carlsbad, meanwhile, has stopped adding new families to its waiting list and is doling out a few new vouchers a month when there’s turnover.
Meanwhile in D.C.: Congressional Republicans narrowly passed a six-month continuing resolution late Tuesday that the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee projected could threaten rental subsidies for 32,000 families nationwide.
Back in San Diego: County supervisors deadlocked Tuesday over Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer’s proposal to send notices to county residents who may be impacted by federal cuts. The item will return to the board on April 8.
South County Report: A Crib Sheet on the District 1 Supes Race
For months, South Bay communities have been without a representative on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
As our Jim Hinch writes in his latest South County Report, the process to select a replacement for former supervisor Nora Vargas is now officially on. Ballots are out and District 1 residents have until April 8 to vote.
Hinch delivered a rundown of the D1 candidates and their top issues plus other South Bay news updates.
Read the South County Report here.
In related news:The Union-Tribune reports that current county supervisors voted Tuesday to allow the county clerk to appoint a day-to-day administrator to run district officers when supervisors abruptly leave office.
County Supes Advance Homeless Camping Ban Update
County supervisors unanimously directed staff to work on an update to the county’s homeless camping ban ordinance that adds provisions tied to fire risks but maintains 72-hour noticing requirements before sweeps unless there’s an imminent safety risk.
Supervisor Joel Anderson, who has lobbied for an update to the policy since October 2023, cheered Tuesday’s vote and called it “a crucial step” for fire safety.
Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe emphasized that they want to ensure there are shelter options to offer before homeless people are cited under the forthcoming policy. Montgomery Steppe also asked county staff to return with a list of potential shelter sites that supervisors previously requested and to seek input from homeless and formerly homeless San Diegans before proceeding.
County officials said they will return in about 60 days with a proposed ordinance.
Song of the Week
Jeremy Field, “Our Day Is Over”: There’s an odd serenity to much of “Our Day Is Over.” The song is underpinned by an infectious loop that’s then layered with violin and sirenic synths. It’s a disarming but genuinely intoxicating concoction. Then, for whatever reason, Field hits you with a verse sung to the tune of “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Fortunately (or unfortunately), it works. Read more about the Song of the Week here.
Like what you hear? Catch Jeremy Field at Tower Bar on March 17.
Do you have a “Song of the Week” suggestion? Shoot us an email and a sentence or two about why you’ve been bumping this song lately. Friendly reminder: all songs should be by local artists.
In Other News
- County Supervisor Jim Desmond’s push to repeal a controversial policy limiting county cooperation with federal authorities seeking to deport undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes failed on Tuesday. (City News Service)
- The San Diego City Council voted earlier this week to increase cannabis taxes in a bid to help address a massive budget shortfall, leaving the city with a rate higher than other cities in the region effective May 1. (Union-Tribune)
- Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego announced it has given layoff notices to dozens of employees who served refugees and migrants following border policy changes ushered in by President Donald Trump. (NBC 7)
- The Grossmont Healthcare District hired an interim leader earlier this week, nearly a week after abruptly deciding to end its chief executive’s contract. (Union-Tribune)
- Recent Trump administration changes to National Endowment for Arts grants could impact local arts programs. (KPBS)
- The family of a homeless woman who was found dead inside her vehicle at an impound lot after it was hit during a drunk driving crash has filed a claim against the city of San Diego. (CBS 8)
- The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency is planning to end leases at five government offices in San Diego County. (NBC 7)
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt and Jakob McWhinney. It was edited by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña.