Press Releases

Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) gathered local leaders to announce how San Diego’s homeless service providers and elected leaders are working together to make the best case for San Diego to get more of its fair share of federal homelessness resources.  After a breakthrough announced by Congressman Peters last month, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking feedback on four options to replace an existing, outdated formula that is used to distribute homelessness resources and has disadvantaged San Diego.

“Ending homelessness in San Diego is a bold goal that can only be achieved if we receive our fair share of resources,” Rep. Peters said. “These four options take into account a number of factors, from poverty to the availability and affordability of housing and rentals, which better measure a city’s need and how hard it is for a struggling family to find a place to live. As important a step as the reopening of the formula is,  there is still a lot of work ahead. Now, we must work together to prepare a response to HUD that demonstrates our expertise and gives us a formula that works for everyone.”

Service organizations, housing providers, and local leaders have the opportunity to weigh in on the potential replacements for the formula during the public comment period that opened on July 21st and lasts 60 days. Congressman Peters was joined today by Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Councilmember Todd Gloria, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors Ron Roberts, former Mayor and current President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Jerry Sanders, and Bill Bolstad of Father Joe’s Villages to demonstrate how San Diego is working collaboratively to respond to HUD and take advantage of this opportunity to bring additional resources to San Diego to help the homeless.

“I thank Congressman Scott Peters for his leadership on having the formula for homeless program funding reevaluated to give San Diego a chance to get our fair share of federal resources,” said Councilmember Todd Gloria. “San Diego has made progress in adopting best practices locally to end homelessness, and an updated formula that allocates funding based on need is critical to our success. It is vital that our region’s agencies coordinate to put the best recommendation forward and I commit to collaborating in that effort through the Regional Continuum of Care Council.”

Congressman Peters first contacted HUD about the formula in March of 2013 after a report found that in 2012, despite having the third largest homeless population in the country, San Diego received the 18th highest level of federal homelessness funding.

Timeline of Congressman Peters’ advocacy to change the funding formula: