San Diego County spent nearly $12 million in federal entitlement funds last fiscal year on affordable housing, homelessness issues, community infrastructure, and housing or services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The figure was part of the 2020-21 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), which summarizes accomplishments on housing programs during that fiscal year and went today before the County Board of Supervisors.
More than $11.74 million was spent of four federal entitlement programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by Housing and Community Development Services (HCDS) at the County Health and Human Services Agency.
Last fiscal year, the County exceeded annual outcome projections in each of the four core funding areas: Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grant and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.
The County also administers funding provided by the state through the State Emergency Solutions Grant program. The activities, as described in the CAPER, predominately benefited lower-income residents. The investments included:
- Approximately $5.3 million was spent on affordable housing, which included the construction of The Grove, an 80-unit affordable housing development in Vista—140% of the goal.
- Nearly $5 million on housing for people with HIV/AIDS or 325% of the projection.
- More than $800,000 was expended on homelessness, primarily on homeless prevention, rapid rehousing, emergency shelters and street outreach. In the area, the County accomplished 127% of the goal.
- More than $750,000 on new infrastructure, including park improvements, street and sidewalk construction or repairs and public services—133% of the goal.
Through these efforts, the County served a total of more than 125,000 people and 5,000 households during the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The CAPER requires public comment and a public hearing before it is submitted to the federal government.
In addition to accepting the report, the Board also voted to allow the County to apply for $500,000 from the state through the State Emergency Solutions Grant program to be used during the current fiscal year.
Like the federal Emergency Solutions Grant, the state funds are used to serve people who are homeless and those at risk of homelessness throughout the region.