With federal cuts from the Trump Administration threatening food assistance, housing support, and healthcare access for hundreds of thousands of San Diegans, the Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved Chair Lawson-Remer’s plan to launch a first-of-its-kind partnership between the County and San Diego Foundation to protect essential services.

The Partnership to Protect San Diegans pairs County funds with philanthropic dollars to help stabilize nonprofit providers, prevent service shutdowns, and help families continue to access food, housing assistance, and healthcare as federal funding retreats.

“Working families shouldn’t pay the price for decisions made in Washington,” said Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. “These cuts are hitting our neighbors, seniors on fixed incomes, and people already struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Up to $300 million in new cost pressures are landing on the County because of federal red tape and funding freezes. We can’t wait for Washington to fix this. We are the safety net, and this partnership is how we protect people right now.”

“Nonprofits are on the front lines helping San Diegans stay housed, nourished and healthy as federal support retreats,” said Mark Stuart, President and CEO of San Diego Foundation. “This critical partnership helps ensure those essential services remain within reach for the people who depend on them, and we are grateful to work alongside the County and our philanthropic partners during this period of heightened need

What the Partnership Does:

○      Sustain up to $36 million in San Diego County-contracted non-profit programs that may otherwise face cuts, including food assistance, housing stability and healthcare.

○      Doubles the impact of every public dollar through a 1:1 philanthropic match with San Diego Foundation.

○      Provides $8 million in rapid relief this year through the San Diego Unity Fund, supporting food, housing, and health programs countywide.

○      Saves the County an estimated $13-million over two years, freeing resources to stabilize the safety net amid a $300-million annual federal funding.

“Families can’t afford uncertainty. Nonprofits can’t absorb these losses alone. This partnership strengthens the safety net now so we don’t see more people pushed into hunger, homelessness, or emergency rooms,” Lawson-Remer said. “It’s an innovative model that doubles our resources, protects essential services, and keeps our community stable during a national crisis.”

Click HERE to read the full proposal.

Click HERE to read more about the San Diego Unity Fund.