Liana deeply values the tranquility of the one-bedroom apartment in Oak Park that she now rents with help from the SDHC Moving On Rental Assistance program of HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO, SDHC’s homelessness action plan.

“The Moving On program is just such an awesome program,” Liana said. “And it gives people a chance, the opportunity to build their lives.”

SDHC Moving On provides federal rental assistance to families and individuals who previously experienced homelessness and are ready to transition out of permanent supportive housing, but still need help paying rent.

Participants are identified through SDHC’s partnership with the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services Division.

As an adolescent, Liana ran away from an abusive home and experienced homelessness on and off for many years since the age of 14, she said.

She lived at supportive housing facilities that aided her sobriety and mental health needs before she learned about SDHC Moving On through SDHC’s collaboration with service provider Mental Health Systems – Center Star Assertive Community Treatment (ACT).

Having a home where she feels safe and has positive neighbors, and that is close to shops and transit, has been critical to her ability to maintain more than three years of sobriety and manage her mental and physical health challenges, Liana said.

“I love it. It’s awesome here. I have my peace. I have my quiet. I have my serenity. I have my sanity,” Liana said of her apartment.

Looking ahead, Liana aims to pass the General Educational Development (GED) test because she never attended high school.

“It gives me some hope and peace and joy that I never thought I could ever find. And I’m so happy and grateful for the Moving On program for how much it’s helped me,” Liana said.