County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer announced significant progress in addressing the region’s homelessness and behavioral health needs through the development of three new permanent supportive housing projects funded under the State of California’s Project Homekey.

The County of San Diego partnered with the City of San Diego and the San Diego Housing Commission to apply for money for four projects in the third round of Project Homekey funding, three of which have now received $55 million in state dollars. The County of San Diego also pledged up to $32 million in capital loans to the San Diego Housing Commission for these projects and has committed to providing behavioral health services for the project’s residents.

“Starting this month, more than 200 supportive housing units will start opening their doors to homeless veterans and chronically homeless individuals,” said Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors and whose District 3 includes the Pacific Village and Abbott Street Apartments projects. “We’re making sure that San Diego is getting its fair share of funding from the state so we can enact proven solutions to the homelessness crisis. Supportive housing gets people off the streets and keeps them housed. It’s more than just a roof, it’s a foundation for rebuilding lives.”

75 of the new housing units will be in Lawson-Remer’s District 3 communities of Midway and Ocean Beach.

The developments that received Project Homekey “round 3” funding include:

● Abbott Street Apartments in Ocean Beach: Expected to be operational by the end of September 2024.

● Pacific Village in the Midway District: Anticipated to be operational by December 2024.

● Presidio Palms in Mission Valley: Scheduled to be operational by February 2025.

Once completed, these developments will provide a total of 239 units of permanent supportive housing, offering a stable foundation for formerly homeless individuals with behavioral health conditions to achieve long-term housing stability and improved health outcomes.

Services will include screening, outreach, case management, and care coordination including mental health treatment and substance use programs.

Additionally, the County will provide access to crisis response services, such as the 24/7 Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) and Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), ensuring immediate support for tenants in need.

Project Homekey is a California state program designed to provide permanent housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

In August 2024, a contract was awarded for behavioral health supportive services at Abbott Street Apartments and Pacific Village. The procurement process for Presidio Palms is underway, with an expected contract start date later this fall.

The urgent need for these developments is underscored by the results of the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, which tallied 6,110 unsheltered individuals in the region—an 18.2 percent increase from 2023. Of those experiencing homelessness in 2023, 28 percent reported having a serious mental illness, highlighting the critical need for housing solutions that incorporate behavioral health care.

Research shows that stable housing and services are vital interventions for individuals experiencing homelessness, especially those with serious mental illness. Providing permanent supportive housing not only improves mental health outcomes but also increases engagement with supportive services, including mental health treatment, substance use programs, and other resources. This approach reduces reliance on emergency services and can be cost-effective by preventing hospitalizations and interactions with the criminal justice system.