SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 30: After being closed during the pandemic, the Golden Hall shelter has reopened to house the homeless. SAN DIEGO — New money for homelessness programs, pothole repairs, small business aid and flood victims are key elements of a last-minute budget compromise San Diego City Council members unanimously approved Tuesday.
That includes restoring $3.1 million for victims of the Jan. 22 floods, $1 million for youth drop-in centers and $5.2 million for rental subsidies that can help prevent homelessness. “There is over $6 million available for the purpose of new or replacement emergency homeless shelters, something that we have all identified as a significant need,” Lee said.The last-minute additions include $750,000 for a homeless outreach program run by the Housing Commission to get people off the streets and into housing.
Jones said her agency will have more resources to help people in danger of becoming homeless with money for back rent or other help.“This is a small but mighty team that focuses on some of the most vulnerable on our city streets,” she said. “It has an incredibly high success rate.” Other last-minute additions include $1.1 million for small business aid, $5.9 million for climate equity projects, $800,000 to make dangerous intersections safer, $500,000 to upgrade the Southcrest Recreation Center and $120,000 for a long-awaited new lifeguard tower in Pacific Beach.
There is also $250,000 for streetlights in University City and $1 million for Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park in City Heights.