San Diego County says HUD-funded programs served more than 140,000 people in FY 2023–24; board accepts annual report

San Diego Countyofficials presented the fiscal year 202324 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 10, summarizing how the county used U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement funds to support affordable housing, homelessness prevention, community infrastructure and services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The CAPER, prepared by the countyHealth and Human Services AgencyHousing and Community Development Services (HCBS), reports that HUD-funded programs served more than 140,000 individuals and households in the year, including nutrition assistance, homeowner repairs, new affordable housing production and support services for people at risk of homelessness. "Through our HUD funding, the County served more than a 140,000 individuals last fiscal year," HCBS staff told the board.

The report matters because HUD entitlement funds are a primary federal source for local programs that address housing stability and community infrastructure in lower-income neighborhoods. David Estrella, director of Housing and Community Development Services, told the board the CAPER is the countyreport back to HUD on accomplishments under the Consolidated Plan and that the report had been available for public review since Aug. 22.

Among the specifics HCBS highlighted: assistance to roughly 72,000 households toward more stable housing or services; health-and-safety repairs for nearly 60 low-income homeowners; roughly $4.3 million committed to a development expected to yield 205 affordable units; four infrastructure projects (including ADA accessibility and a street rehabilitation) serving more than 16,000 residents; more than 47,000 connections into homeless services through data and referral systems; over 1,100 people receiving shelter or rental assistance; and more than 2,500 households served through HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS), including about 160 households placed in permanent affordable housing.

"The HUD-funded programs included in the CAPER support each of the five strategic domains included in the county's framework for ending homelessness," HCBS staff said. The department also reported that fiscal-year spending included one-time COVID-era resources used for nutrition assistance and development of permanent housing.

Public comment on the CAPER was extensive and largely critical of existing homelessness policies. Multiple callers and in-person speakers urged the board to pursue alternative housing models, faster construction of shelter or transitional housing, greater transparency on program expenditures and cost-per-unit figures for subsidized developments. Speakers also raised concerns about alleged waste and asked for more detailed auditing of ARPA and HUD-related spending.

Supervisor comments emphasized the CAPERrole in multi-year planning and outreach. Supervisor Montgomery Stapp and others asked for breakdowns of the 74,000-plus public-service contacts cited in the report; HCBS deputy director Kelly Sammons provided a line-item summary on the public record, saying the number included nearly 71,000 households receiving nutrition assistance, about 2,000 HOPWA-supported households receiving services, more than 1,000 clients connected to 211 referrals, and additional smaller categories such as seniors receiving housing navigation and transition-age youth served through court-appointed advocates.

The board held the required public hearing and then voted to accept the CAPER. The motion passed unanimously with all supervisors present voting aye. The presentation team told the board they would return in October with the countystrategy for the next 5-year consolidated plan and that HCBS had conducted outreach events and surveys to inform the upcoming plan.

The CAPER provides the countyHUD entitlement programsannual accounting and is used to shape funding priorities, including outreach to unincorporated areas and smaller cities that have historically had less access to federal funds. HCBS officials noted they will continue community engagement as the county prepares the next consolidated plan.

Looking ahead, HCBS said the consolidated-plan timeline will carry the county through 2025 updates and additional community engagement sessions; staff committed to provide board members and the public with more detail on unit-level costs and program follow-up metrics.