FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
February 5, 2024

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO – Last week, Mayor Todd Gloria and City Councilmember Vivian Moreno initiated a comprehensive outreach initiative to disseminate information to residents impacted by the wave of storms that are still battering San Diego.

 “When emergencies strike, all levels of government and community organizations must coalesce and respond quickly to help residents get back on their feet,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “Our staff have been on the ground every day in the heavily impacted communities since January 22, making sure people are updated on all the available services to them. The initiative launched this past week solidifies these efforts.”

 “The victims of the flooding in communities like Southcrest desperately need access to housing and resources. The City must provide significant support to the San Diego Housing Commission for a robust hotel placement program that will allow any residents who need a place to stay access to safe housing accommodations,” said Councilmember Vivian Moreno. “Additionally, having an active and ongoing door-to-door outreach plan to effectively communicate with flood victims to ensure their needs are met with resources like emergency housing, tenant and landlord assistance, access to food, clothing and other supplies is essential.”

 The information – being hand-delivered door to door by City staff and volunteers – covers a wide array of services available to help residents recover from the devastating floods, including connections to the City-run Local Assistance Center at Mountain View Recreation Center, the temporary emergency shelter at the Balboa Park Municipal Gym run by the American Red Cross and the four donation distribution centers operated at City facilities. The outreach program will also disseminate information in English and Spanish about emergency preparedness, housing assistance, trash disposal and sandbag distribution.

 Among the services offered through the outreach initiative, is a hotel placement program run by the San Diego Housing Commission, a program that will be partially funded by the City of San Diego while the County of San Diego stands up a longer-term housing assistance program.

To help support these efforts, Mayor Gloria, City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera and the Housing Commission announced on Friday the use of a former hotel property in Midway to temporarily house up to 59 families and individuals displaced by flooding.

The Housing Commission has triaged 256 households for emergency housing needs and referred 158 households for temporary placement in hotel rooms. Nearly 100 households have been connected to other resources.

Residents placed in hotels are also being assessed for emergency food needs and are receiving support from the San Diego Food Bank and being offered evening meals, as needed.

Housing Commission staff are conducting emergency housing triage assessments at Jackie Robinson YMCA and the emergency shelter at the Municipal Gym, as well as at the City’s Local Assistance Center at the Mountain View Recreation Center, which opened on Saturday and offers a vast array of services from government agencies and community-based organizations.

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