Supervisors approve proposals to benefit homeless vets, those in need of supportive housing

A rendering of an affordable housing project set for the former site of the Serra Mesa branch library A portion of the units are set aside for veterans Photo courtesy of city of San Diego San Diego County supervisors on Tuesday voted on two items to address housing and homelessness while also hearing an update on a drop in gun violence in the region Veteran homelessness The county will expand a activity aimed at ending veteran homelessness as proposed by Supervisor Jim Desmond Dubbed Leave No Veteran Homeless the campaign would continue social media outreach to property owners on the benefits of participating in the federal Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing project while providing a landlord fund to cover damages that exceed safety deposits The county introduced Leave No Veteran Homeless in and it has helped of them find places to live Desmond announced The federal VASH venture accepts veterans who pay a portion of rent based on their income with a voucher covering the rest Supervisors supported the venture on a unanimous vote Affordable housing They also voted unanimously to approve million in conditional funding for an -unit proposed supportive housing project near Rady Children s Hospital The facility would focus on those with serious behavioral strength necessities The housing at Starling Drive would be a partnership between the San Diego city and county governments and the San Diego Housing Commission According to Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer s office the county funding is expected to unlock million in state Homekey funding million from the city of San Diego and federal Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers Homekey is a statewide effort to sustain and rapidly expand housing for people who are homeless or at threat Gun violence According to a overview disclosed Tuesday firearm-related homicides have dropped in the county since In the county from - there were deaths by firearm suicides and homicides Last year the San Diego County Sheriff s Office filed criminal charges tied to ghost gun seizures including for manufacturing possession and distribution In addition more than firearms have been voluntarily turned in at gun safety events The county has a ghost gun ban and a protocol allowing for authorities to sue gun manufacturers a tool now being used in court to block the sale of illegal DIY gun kits Reserves Supervisors earlier in Tuesday s meeting also debated a plan to dip into reserves as the county faces a budget deficit The proposal failed