By VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE
As San Diego ranks number 4 for homeless population throughout the nation, coming up with solutions to combat the crisis has been a top priority, and promise, pledged by San Diego leaders.
In a recent update sent out by Mayor Todd Gloria’s office, a record $29.9 million dollars in homelessness funding is coming San Diego’s way, thanks to a grant allocated by the state’s Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP).
The grant is the largest HHAP award the City has received, beating out the $22.5 award the City received in 2018.
What is HHAP?
According to the website, HHAP funding is a block grant program from the state designed to provide jurisdictions with one-time grant funds to support the local capacity to address immediate homelessness challenges. Cities and Counties across the state are invited to apply. The program was instituted in 2020 and has been distributed in phases, right now the program is in Round 5.
$1 billion dollars was up for grabs in HHPA funding for Round 5. San Diego received 2.29% of that sum, securing the second highest amount across the region. Los Angeles received the highest amount of HHAP funding, with $164.3 million awarded to the city.
Where will the money be going?
- $4.5 million to go to existing prevention and shelter diversion programs
- $17.4 million for interim housing options
- $3 million for street outreach
- Additional $3 million to fund interim housing for youth
The increase in recent years of available homeless services provided by the City has in large been due to grants such as HHAP–fueling efforts like shelter bed expansion, safe parking programs, outreach and raping rehousing programs etc.
As of January, 1,358 individuals became homeless in San Diego for the very first time, according to data from the San Diego Regional Task Force on homelessness.
