Over the past decade, Section 8 housing vouchers that the San Diego Housing Commission doles out to specific projects have been one of its most potent tools to reduce homelessness. The vouchers have helped fund thousands of homes for people with very low incomes.
Now, our Lisa Halverstadt reveals, the Housing Commission has decided it doesn’t have the financial bandwidth to keep handing out those vouchers amid rising rental costs, insufficient federal support and uncertainty going into the new year.
The housing agency now doesn’t expect to give out project-based vouchers for several years, a move that will likely lead to a slowdown in housing development for the lowest income San Diegans, especially those now living on the street.
That’s difficult news for housing developers including the team behind Midway Rising, which had expected to use up to 200 project-based vouchers to deliver 2,000 affordable housing units as part of the mega Sports Arena redevelopment.
Worth noting: The decision to stop giving out project-based vouchers is just the latest hard call the city’s housing agency has made in recent years. The Housing Commission hasn’t pulled families from its lengthy Section 8 waiting list since August 2022.
In 2025, San Diegans Can’t Look Away From the Screaming
In a new column, editor Scott Lewis writes that so many of us have grown numb to the homelessness crisis. The suffering, poverty screaming and chaos, he writes.
“We are now entering the eighth year of the homeless crisis, counting back to 2017 when their deaths due to viral infections spread through lack of hygiene alarmed San Diego’s leaders so much that they mobilized the government to address it,” Lewis writes. “Now, almost eight years later, it’s as bad as ever.”
From leadership shakeups to budget deficits, San Diego is facing many challenges. Still, its leaders have met the moment before, he argues, and they must do it again in 2025.
“This isn’t a storm we can hunker down in and let pass,” he writes. “Creativity and ambition is our only way out. We’re going to need people to seize on ideas, hunt for resources and partnerships, press their peers and superiors to cut red tape. All of that just to get the beds we need to treat people, the shelters and spaces they can go to, especially if we are going to run them out of other areas.”
Trump Adviser Warns California Leaders About Sanctuary City Laws
An organization led by an incoming adviser to President-elect Donald Trump is sending a warning to California leaders about its sanctuary city laws, saying jurisdictions like San Diego County are “violating federal law” and could be held criminally responsible, according to a report by CalMatters.
Earlier this month, San Diego County’s board of supervisors adopted a policy that prohibits local law enforcement from communicating with immigration authorities about undocumented people in local jails without a warrant.
The policy goes further than California’s existing state sanctuary law, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The America First Legal Foundation, led by incoming Trump adviser Stephen Miller, sent letters to around 250 elected officials in sanctuary jurisdictions throughout the state warning that they could face “legal consequences.”
“We have identified San Diego County as a sanctuary jurisdiction that is violating federal law,” read a letter sent to Board Supervisor Chair Nora Vargas, who stepped down from her position on Friday.
It’s worth noting: Sheriff Kelly Martinez has made it clear that she intends to continue following state law, and not the new policy County Supervisors approved.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department transferred 25 inmates to the custody of immigration authorities in 2023, according to a report. That number is up from 21 in 2022.
Those Eying Nora Vargas’ Seat
While most were enjoying some much-needed time off, several South County politicians were busy making calls and rallying up support to help them land their next gig: County Supervisor.
Supervisor Nora Vargas’ unexpected decision to not serve a second term fresh off being re-elected sent shockwaves across the region. The board will decide this month if they are appointing someone to her seat or holding a special election.
Already in the running: Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre announced Monday that she plans to run. She identified the sewage crisis, housing and cost of living as her top three priorities.
“I’ve fought for change when our communities have been ignored and taken on inaction in both parties, including my own,” she said in the announcement. “I’m ready to take that fight to the County level.”
Another: Last week, San Diego Councilmember Vivian Moreno also announced that she wants the job. She represents San Diego neighborhoods in the southern part of the county.
Our South County reporter Jim Hinch reported that others also potentially in the running are Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, state Assembly member David Alvarez, Chula Vista City Councilmember Carolina Chavez and National City Councilmember Jose Rodriguez.
In Other News
- Some residents and homelessness advocates are calling on San Diego County leaders to identify how much money the county comprehensively spends on homelessness each year. About a decade ago, Santa Clara County in Northern California found that it was spending $500 million each year on homelessness. (Union-Tribune)
- A range of new state laws are taking effect in the New Year. Read about them here. (NBC 7)
- The city of San Diego is considering installing a permanent fence in Sunset Cliffs to keep the public out of areas that could collapse. (KPBS)
- Petco Park is preparing to host another rodeo later this month and animal welfare advocates are again protesting the event. The Padres and C5 Rodeo are involved in an ongoing lawsuit with animal protection groups. (Fox 5)
The Morning Report was written by Lisa Halverstadt, Tigist Layne and Andrea Lopez-Villafaña. It was edited by Andrea Lopez-Villafaña.
Well, it’s obvious your all being raped again by the city council since it was just a few months ago we were doing fine. And tell me how it is that we pull in several billion a year in tax proposals that have been approved and, in the workings, yet here we are just like ca gov who makes the budget every yr himself we are suddenly short all of a sudden and no one saw this coming? Sure, then you’re all going to approve another bond measure paying to get gang raped again but here’s the thing you can’t call it rape when you’re all asking for it saying oh yes pls give me more and i will pay you for the gang rape
i know they will not let me post this but i dont care at least i said what i wanted to say n i dindt check my spelling cause none of you aree worth it anyhow