January 19, 2022
COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program to Receive $8.3 Million in Additional Federal Funds
The program, operated by the San Diego Housing Commission, received the third-highest award nationwide
SAN DIEGO, CA — The federal government has awarded $8.3 million in funds reallocated from other jurisdictions across the country to the City of San Diego for the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program, which the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) operates.
“These additional rent relief dollars are coming because the federal government recognizes the outstanding job San Diego has done of getting previously allocated funding out the door and into the hands of renters in need of help,” said Mayor Todd Gloria, who recently met with White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling to advocate for additional relief funds. “The need continues to outpace the available resources, so my team will continue to work with our federal and state partners to bring more relief funding to the people of San Diego.”
As of January 18, 2022, SDHC has made payments totaling more than $152.8 million through the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program to help 14,813 qualifying households with low income that experience financial hardship due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This new funding will enable the San Diego Housing Commission to help more families with low income pay their rent and utilities,” SDHC President & CEO Richard C. Gentry said. “These funds are a direct result of our program successfully getting payments out more quickly than other areas to help struggling households. I thank Mayor Todd Gloria and the City Council for their continuing leadership and support of this program.”
Among local jurisdictions that were awarded reallocated funds, the City of San Diego received the third-highest award, following only Harris County, Texas, which includes the City of Houston ($8.6 million), and the City of Philadelphia ($8.36 million).
The U.S. Department of the Treasury developed a process for the reallocation of federal emergency rental assistance funds that had not yet been obligated in other jurisdictions. This included making additional funds available to high-performing agencies based on demonstrated need.
On October 29, 2021, SDHC submitted a formal request to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for $115 million in reallocated funds to support the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program, based on an analysis of the program’s need. The Treasury Department indicated it had received requests for much more funding than it had available to reallocate. The City of San Diego was awarded approximately 7 percent of the amount SDHC requested. The State of California requested $2 billion, but was awarded $50 million.
The Treasury Department reallocated $239.9 million to jurisdictions across the country, including the $8.3 million awarded to the City of San Diego. An additional $875.5 million was classified as “voluntary reallocation” specifically to jurisdictions within the same state to which the funds originally were awarded.
All of the funding previously authorized for the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program has been fully obligated to assist households with low income, including applicants who have preliminary approval, subject to review and confirmation of their documentation. The total obligations for assistance payments still exceed the available funding to help qualifying households. Approximately $42.8 million remains available for SDHC to provide assistance payments; however, approximately $70.3 million is needed to fulfill the requests for assistance from current applicants who have preliminary approval, pending verification of their documentation.
Without significant additional funding, the COVID-19 Housing Stability Assistance Program will not be able to provide help to thousands of eligible households.
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Media Contact:
Scott Marshall, Vice President of Communications
San Diego Housing Commission
619-578-7138
