The completion of three developments will result in more than 200 supportive housing units for people dealing with behavioral health conditions, it was announced Wednesday.
According to Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer‘s office, the Abbott Street Apartments project in the Ocean Beach neighborhood is expected to be ready the end of this month. In the Midway District, Pacific Village should be ready in December, while the Presidio Palms in Mission Valley should be operational this February.
Once open, the three buildings — which received Project Homekey funding — will provide 239 housing units, according to Lawson-Remer.
A state program, Project Homekey provides permanent housing solutions for those living on the streets or at risk of becoming homelessness.
In a statement, Lawson-Remer said the county is “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,” Lawson-Remer, vice chair of the Board of Supervisors, said. “It’s more than just a roof, it’s a foundation for rebuilding lives.”
The 239 units will house people living with behavioral health conditions “to achieve long-term housing stability and improved health outcomes,” according to Lawson-Remer’s office.
Residents may also receive services ranging from case management to mental health or substance abuse treatment. Lawson-Remer added that the county will also provide crisis response services, including the Psychiatric Emergency Response and Mobile Crisis Response teams, “ensuring immediate support for tenants in need.”
Such methods can “reduce reliance on emergency services and can be cost-effective by preventing hospitalizations and interactions with the criminal justice system,” Lawson-Remer said.
County government, the city of San Diego and the San Diego Housing Commission applied for money for four projects in the third round of Project Homekey funding. Three received $55 million in state funding, according to Lawson-Remer’s office.
She said the need for supportive housing is urgent, as demonstrated by the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, which showed 6,110 homeless people in the region, up 18.2% from 2023.
Last year, 28% of the homeless population reported “having a serious mental illness, highlighting the critical need for housing solutions that incorporate behavioral health care,” Lawson-Remer said.
During its regular Tuesday meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on consent to approve an updated report on Project Homekey.
While Lawson-Remer and her colleague Monica Montgomery Steppe praised the program, Supervisor Jim Desmond criticized Project Homekey developments for some negative impacts, including one in Carlsbad called Windsor Pointe.
Desmond — who voted in favor of the update — said Windsor Pointe “is still wreaking havoc” on the neighborhood, due to numerous law enforcement calls and no accountability in terms of who enters the property.
He said Windsor Pointe lacks 24/7 wrap-around services, and added that North County cities no longer want such facilities unless there is proper oversight.
City News Services contributed to this article.