June 7, 2024
San Diego Housing Commission Honored with ‘Innovative Government Agency’ Award for Housing Instability Prevention Program
Two affordable housing developments on which SDHC collaborated also earned recognition from the San Diego Housing Federation
SAN DIEGO, CA — The Housing Instability Prevention Program (HIPP), which helps pay rent and other housing-related expenses for families in the City of San Diego with low income, experiencing a housing crisis and at risk of homelessness, has earned the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) the Innovative Government Agency Award from the San Diego Housing Federation.
“We share this award with Council President Sean Elo-Rivera and the San Diego City Council, who identified and set aside the funding necessary to create HIPP to assist vulnerable families to remain in their homes,” SDHC President and CEO Lisa Jones said. “HIPP continues to provide life-changing assistance for these families. We also congratulate our exceptional staff on this program and our Board of Commissioners for their leadership and support.”
HIPP helps pay rent and other housing-related expenses for families in the City of San Diego with low income, experiencing a housing crisis and at risk of homelessness. SDHC provides $250, $500 or $750 per month toward rent on behalf of enrolled households, depending on the household’s circumstances. HIPP also provides case management and assists with housing-related expenses, such as past-due rent and past-due utilities, depending on the household’s need. These payments are made directly to the landlord or utility company. Enrolled households receive assistance for up to 24 months.
Approximately 260 households are currently enrolled in HIPP. The program has served more than 300 households since its inception in September 2022.
On average, enrolled households spent 77 percent of their income on rent before they began receiving the rent subsidy through HIPP. After they received the rent subsidy, enrolled households, on average, spent about 46 percent of their income on rent.
HIPP also served as a model for the creation of the Seniors Safe at Home program, launched in September 2023, which provides time-limited case management and a specified rental assistance amount per month for seniors aged 55 and older with low income, experiencing a housing crisis, and at risk of homelessness. This is a collaboration among SDHC, Serving Seniors and The Lucky Duck Foundation, which invested $500,000 in philanthropic funds for the Seniors Safe at Home program.
The Innovative Government Agency Award was presented to SDHC on June 6 at the San Diego Housing Federation’s Ruby Awards ceremony. Additional honorees included:
- Housing Champion: California State Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Toni Atkins was recognized with this award for championing affordable housing throughout her career.
- Supportive Housing Award: Milejo Village provides 64 affordable rental housing units with on-site supportive services for families that experienced homelessness, with 25 units set aside for families that include individuals with a mental disability. SDHC awarded 64 federal rental housing vouchers to help pay rent for Milejo Village residents and a $4.2 million loan toward the development. The SDHC loan consisted of federal, state and local funds SDHC administers. Jamboree Housing Corporation developed Milejo Village.
- Project of the Year – Rehabilitation Award: Tizon is a former hotel property in Rancho Bernardo that was transformed into 175 studio apartments for seniors with income up to 60 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income (AMI), currently $63,660 per year for a one-person household. SDHC awarded 44 federal housing vouchers to help pay rent for seniors with annual income at or below 40 percent of AMI. SDHC also awarded a loan of approximately $4 million to support the Tizon development. The SDHC loan consisted of federal and local funds SDHC administers. In addition, SDHC authorized the issuance of up to $24.9 million in Multifamily Housing Revenue notes toward the development’s financing, with the approval of the San Diego City Council in its role as the City’s Housing Authority. Affirmed Housing developed Tizon.
- Voice of Lived Experience Award: David Bell is a Housing Specialist with People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) and a member of the Homeless-Experienced Advocacy and Leadership (HEAL) Network, whose lived experience and training as an advocate provide him the skills he uses to assist residents with property owner disputes, leasing fairs, equity concerns, and people struggling with maintaining housing. He works with empathy, compassion and integrity as he advocates for affordable housing and assists veterans and veteran families experiencing homelessness.
- Exceptional Development Partner Award: Nestor United Methodist Church ground leased church-owned land to National Community Renaissance (National CORE) for the development of Nestor Senior Village, which provides 73 affordable rental housing units in the Nestor community with supportive services for seniors ages 55 and older who experienced homelessness or were at risk of homelessness. SDHC awarded 73 rental housing vouchers to help Nestor Senior Village residents pay their rent and a $3.3 million loan toward the development. SDHC’s loan consisted of federal and local funds SDHC administers.
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Media Contact:
Scott Marshall,
Vice President of Communications
San Diego Housing Commission
619-578-7138
scottm@sdhc.org
