San Diego City Wire

San Diego County is expanding a pilot shallow rental subsidy program for older adults, aiming to support an additional 160 individuals at risk of homelessness. The County's Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities will provide eligible residents over 55 years old with a $500 monthly rental subsidy for 18 months, which will be paid directly to landlords.

Applications can be submitted starting May 22. Participants will be selected randomly. These new participants will join the 222 households previously chosen in early 2023 when the original pilot program was approved for expansion by the County Board of Supervisors.

“We are grateful the County Board of Supervisors prioritized our seniors and allocated additional funds to ease the burden of our county’s older adults and grandparents,” said Barbara Jiménez, Community Operations Officer for the County’s Health and Human Services Agency. “This is an important part of the puzzle to prevent vulnerable populations from falling into homelessness.”

The County’s Aging Roadmap forecasts that San Diego's population aged 60 or older will grow to more than 910,000 people by 2030, with those aged 55 and older expected to surpass 1.1 million. According to the 2023 We All Count Point-in-Time Count, individuals over age 55 constitute 29 percent of the region’s unsheltered population.

People who have questions about the Shallow Rental Subsidy Program should email their full name and contact information to AHHSseniorprogram@equitablesolutions.com or call (619) 780-3684.

For further information:

County Communications Office

communications@sdcounty.ca.gov

619-595-4633