December 7, 2016
The San Diego Housing Commission Awarded $100,000 Grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to Support its 1,000 Homeless Veterans Initiative
San Diego, CA — A $100,000 grant that the Wells Fargo Foundation awarded to the San Diego Housing Commission’s (SDHC) 1,000 Homeless Veterans Initiative will help to provide homeless Veterans with temporary stays in hotels and motels while they search for longer term housing, as well as furniture after they secure their rental housing.
To date, 429 formerly homeless Veterans have secured rental housing through SDHC’s 1,000 Homeless Veterans Initiative. A total of 272 landlords are participating in the “Housing Our Heroes” landlord outreach program of the Initiative.
The Wells Fargo Foundation grant will help fund needs that are essential to helping participating homeless Veterans stabilize their lives—while they are on their road to getting off the streets:
- Furniture and Move-In Kits – In partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, SDHC will continue to provide furniture and move-in kits for homeless Veterans with a disabling condition who need supportive services and qualify for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) voucher program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- Hotel and Motel Stays for Homeless Veteran Families – Short-term hotel and motel stays of up to seven nights will be provided to Veteran families that are searching for housing through the Initiative. SDHC has identified 10 hotels and motels so that Veterans can choose a location near jobs or their children’s schools.
The grant will be added to the $12.5 million in Federal, City and SDHC resources that SDHC is investing over two years to provide rental housing for up to a thousand homeless Veterans who are living on the streets or in shelters.
SDHC is one of six organizations in San Diego County that were awarded grants, which were announced today as part of the Wells Fargo Neighborhood LIFT program.
Wells Fargo launched the Neighborhood LIFT program in San Diego in March, making a $5 million commitment to boost community revitalization.
Background – SDHC’s 1,000 Homeless Veterans Initiative
SDHC’s 1,000 Homeless Veterans Initiative, which includes the “Housing Our Heroes” landlord outreach program, will provide housing opportunities for up to 1,000 homeless Veterans within a year – March 2017.
The “Housing Our Heroes” landlord outreach program provides incentives for landlords with rental units in the city of San Diego (ZIP Code 92037 and ZIP Codes that begin with 921, excluding 92118) who rent to homeless Veterans.
In addition, landlords with rental properties in the city of National City (ZIP Code 91950) can participate in “Housing Our Heroes,” allowing Veterans who receive Federal rental housing vouchers through the VASH Program to rent units in National City.
SDHC’s 1,000 Homeless Veterans Initiative is part of HOUSING FIRST- SAN DIEGO, SDHC’s landmark three-year Homelessness Action Plan (2014-17).
For more information about SDHC’s program, visit www.sdhc.org
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Media Contact:
Maria Velasquez
Chief Communications Officer
San Diego Housing Commission
619-578-7560 | mariav@sdhc.org
