Recently created by the city of Chula Vista, the Department of Housing and Homeless Services will provide city staff and resources to comprehensively address the housing needs of Chula Vista residents and advance solutions for the city’s unhoused residents.
“The creation of this department will provide additional focus and dedicated resources to meet the needs of our unsheltered community,” said City Manager Maria V. Kachadoorian in a press release.
“We look forward to opening the first bridge shelter in South County and to working with our partners to provide services to support and house as many people as possible.” The 10-member department manages programs to meet the housing of residents across all income levels, with priorities set in working with the Homeless Outreach program, Chula Vista Bridge Shelter, Harborside Park outreach, affordable and middle-income housing development, first-time homebuyer and rental assistance programs, Tenant Protection Ordinance, Community Development Block grants, Housing & Urban Development funding programs, and Healthy & Aging-Friendly Initiatives, and state and local grant programs. New director of Housing and Homeless services, Stacey Kurz has 23 years of experience in planning, housing, and community engagement. Her experience in addressing critical community needs and implementing through collaboration with the city and community leaders, the new department will elevate the needs of the unsheltered through Angelica Davis, the city’s first Homeless Solution manager and will continue to provide support for the city’s Homeless Outreach Team and ongoing project management for homeless projects and programs.
2023 Department of Housing milestones.
• The Tenant Protection Ordinance will go into effect March 1. It will enact new laws for no-fault evictions.
• The City will open the first bridge shelter in South Bay that will provide 66 individual units for unsheltered individuals. Construction is underway on the city-owned property at 27th and Faivre Streets.
• Over 400 units of affordable housing will come online including two projects in Otay Ranch, Encelia in Village 8 West and Columba in Millenia.
• Administration of the re-launched First-Time Homebuyer Program and development of standard plans and software to promote Accessory Dwelling Units.
• Implementation of the approved 2021-2029 Housing Element goals.
For more information and updates, visit www.chulavistaca.gov/housing.
