San Diego County Housing Authority adopts five-year plan to preserve vouchers, seeks HUD approvals

The Housing Authority of the County of San Diego on March 12 adopted its five-year and annual agency plans and authorized submission of required certifications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The plan—presented by David Estrella, director of Housing and Community Development Services, and Nick Martinez, assistant director—lays out goals for the next five years to increase access to affordable housing, enhance community engagement, ensure equity in operations and improve customer service. Estrella told the board the authority administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program, public housing and other rental-assistance programs serving roughly 11,000 households and more than 25,000 residents countywide.

The agency’s annual plan includes two policy documents: the Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan and the Public Housing Program Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy. Staff said the authority added community engagement during plan development, posted drafts for a 45-day public review, and received four written comments that did not require changes.

Staff highlighted recent accomplishments and near-term actions. Nick Martinez told the board the authority had applied for and received 830 new rental-assistance vouchers and been awarded 475 project-based voucher (PBV) units at 14 sites over the prior five years. The authority also estimated a 2025 public housing capital fund grant of roughly $360,000 to support energy-efficiency and modernization work at four public housing sites in Chula Vista.

In response to board questions, staff said funding levels for vouchers depend on HUD allocations. David Estrella said the authority’s ability to pull households from its waiting list is contingent on federal funding and that the wait list currently contains more than 10,000 applications; staff said the average wait time currently exceeds 15 years. Estrella also provided program-level financial figures later in the presentation, saying the average monthly assistance paid on behalf of a household was about $1,700 and the average gross rent in the voucher program approximately $2,421.

Public commenters described personal experiences with homelessness and voucher access. “I have been homeless for four years,” said Robin Smith, who identified herself as a person currently living in her car, urging continued support for housing programs. Disabled Marine Corps veteran Carlos Blackburn told the board he is eligible for a voucher and asked for staff help navigating the process. Several callers and in-person commenters urged faster placement and more supportive services during transitions to permanent housing.

Board members pressed staff on contingency planning given federal budget uncertainty. Supervisor Montgomery Stepp asked for clearer options that would allow the county to respond quickly if HUD funding were reduced. Estrella and staff said HUD guidance is still pending; they committed to providing the board with updated analyses and contingency options as allocations become known.

The board voted unanimously to approve the agency plans and related authorizations. Supervisor Montgomery Stepp moved approval; Vice Chair Lawson Reimer seconded. Tenant Commissioner Bianca Berry and Tenant Commissioner Nilsa Higgins, and Supervisors Anderson, Montgomery Stepp, Desmond and Vice Chair Lawson Reimer all voted yes.

The actions approved authorize submission of the agency plans and certifications to HUD, authorize staff to pursue additional program funding or vouchers as opportunities arise, direct the Department of Purchasing and Contracting to re-procure property management services for public housing sites, and permit the housing authority to explore financial repositioning of public housing. Staff said it will return to the board later this year with more information and any required authorizations related to repositioning.