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San Diego County unveils Ramona self-sufficiency center; officials expect about 500 monthly visits
Summary
County speakers described a new Ramona service center as a local hub for CalWORKs, CalFresh and Medi‑Cal assistance, highlighted its LEED Gold and zero‑net‑energy features, and included a resident testimony about the services' life-changing effect.
San Diego County officials and residents described a new self-sufficiency services center in Ramona as a local hub expected to serve roughly 500 customers a month, or about 6,000 a year.
“Based on what we're seeing at the old location, we expect to see almost 500 customer visits a month or close to 6,000 annually,” said Speaker 1, a county staff member who presented details about the new facility.
County presenters said the center is designed to shorten wait times and to locate multiple services in one place. “This new center and the growing campus means helping people faster with shorter wait times,” Speaker 1 said. Another presenter characterized the project as the result of extensive local input: “This is a culmination of so much hard work and it's gonna make such a difference in this community. We've never had this level of services local before. Ramona showed up in droves and they gave their opinions and that's why you see such an outstanding product before you today,” Speaker 2, a county staff member, said.
Officials noted sustainability features of the building. “The county has set ambitious goals for sustainability, and this building meets them all. This building achieved a gold rating by the US Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED. The facility is also what we call 0 Net Energy or ZNE, and this means that the solar panels on the roof will produce as much electricity as this building consumes over the course of a year,” Speaker 3, a county staff member working on facilities, said.
Presenters also emphasized local staffing and community context. Speaker 1 said many employees are local and noted Ramona’s arts scene and nearby vineyards as part of the community setting. “Many of the employees here are also local. Visitors may see a familiar face when you walk in to receive services. Ramona's local arts scene is our best kept secret and pairs well with our flourishing vineyards and vibrant musical performances,” Speaker 1 said.
A resident who spoke about personal experience with county programs described how services such as CalWORKs, CalFresh and Medi-Cal helped her complete a college degree and later give back to the community. “Many years ago, I needed several of the self sufficiency services available through the county in order to create a secure future for my young children and myself. These services were critical. Services such as CalWORKS for housing, CalFresh for groceries, and Medi Cal for doctor visits. Receiving this assistance from my family and me was life changing. I was able to enroll full time at college and complete my degree through the University of California, San Diego,” Speaker 4, a resident, said. She added, “The county self sufficiency services provided the opportunity for me to develop my potential and then to give back to the community.”
No formal motions or votes were recorded in the provided transcript segments. Presenters framed the remarks as description and celebration of the new facility rather than as agenda items requiring board action.
