The Iris at San Ysidro, a 100-unit affordable housing development, was celebrated at a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together city, county and nonprofit partners. The development includes 15 permanent supportive apartments for people who have experienced homelessness and a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units reserved for households earning up to 60% of area median income.

Why it matters: The opening adds units in a transit-oriented location near the Iris trolley station and is tied to broader neighborhood investments, including a state infill infrastructure grant to renovate Howard Lane Park. Officials emphasized that combination of housing, services and public-space improvements aims to benefit both new residents and long-time neighbors.

The ceremony featured developers and elected officials who recounted the project’s long timeline and financing. John Seymour of National Community Renaissance said the project was placed into escrow in January 2019 and thanked multiple partner agencies and contractors for bringing the development to lease-up. "We first put this project into escrow in January 2019," Seymour said, noting extensive community meetings during the process.

Mayor Todd Gloria highlighted the city’s role and funding contribution, saying, "In this particular case, the city invested $5,000,000 to help make this community possible," and pointed to a mayoral initiative to speed housing permits. The mayor also described the city’s permit goal and reported an average turnaround of about nine days for the relevant program.

County officials described additional financing and services tied to the development. David Estrella, director of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s housing and community development services, said the county provided $11,500,000 for the project: "The county support of $11,500,000 for this development, 5,000,000 in innovative housing trust funds, and 6,500,000 in No Place Like Home funds," and noted county behavioral health services will provide wraparound supports.

The San Diego Housing Commission described its financing role, including a loan from the city’s Affordable Housing Fund, award of 25 HUD project-based vouchers to help extremely low-income tenants, and the authorization of bonds to support construction. "The rents here will remain affordable for 55 years," Colin Miller, senior vice president for real estate at the San Diego Housing Commission, said.

Nonprofit partners described resident services planned on-site. Stephanie De La Torre of the Hope Through Housing Foundation said the development will offer case management and health-support partnerships and that an after-school program will operate on-site. Valerie Gomez, a field representative for Congressman Juan Vargas, presented a certificate of special congressional recognition to the development's team.

Officials noted demand remains high: speakers said the developer’s waiting list exceeds 1,000 households, underscoring ongoing housing needs in the region. The event concluded with a ribbon cutting and a tour of model units.

What’s next: Organizers said leasing is underway and residents will begin moving in; partners described future park and streetscape work funded through the state infill grant and other local investments.