County Emergency Lodging Program for Flood Victims to End, But Other Aid Still Available

San Diego County’s Emergency Temporary Lodging program, established to help people displaced by the January flooding, ends Friday.

Those residents still in the program will need to move back home or make other arrangements with local housing authorities, according to a statement from the county.

“Thousands of San Diegans faced the devastating aftermath as floodwaters tore through their homes on Jan. 22,” said county Supervisor and board chair Nora Vargas. “In the wake of this disaster, our immediate focus was on providing essential shelter and support … yet the needs persisted far beyond initial expectations.”

At its height, the program supported more than 2,200 people from nearly 900 households. They received hotel stays, food through Uber Eats vouchers and mental health services via Open Hearts Leaders and JIREH Providers.

Thousands of county residents applied for FEMA assistance, with millions paid out from the federal government owing to a Presidential Emergency Declaration.

Locally, the Board of Supervisors approved more than $33.7 million for community recovery efforts, including the Emergency Temporary Lodging program.

“No San Diegan should become homeless or permanently displaced from their community as a result of a natural disaster,” said San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. “The work to make good on that goal is far from over and will require the support of our entire community.”

He cited $4.2 million in financial support from the county and $3 million approved by his City Council colleagues to support those who continue to need assistance.

Those who continue to have needs should contact the appropriate agency:

• Families in the city of San Diego can apply for help and get more information online at the San Diego Housing Commission online, by phone at 619-578-7792 or by email at floodrecovery@sdhc.org.
• The National City Housing Authority received more than $360,000 in county funds to support city residents, who may request assistance by calling 619-743-6420 or emailing housing@nationacityca.gov.
• People living in unincorporated areas can receive support by contacting County Housing and Community Development Services at 858-694-4801 or by email at tsp.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov.

David Estrella, director of the county’s Housing and Community Development Services department, said staff has been “working individually” with the 29 households from the county housing authority’s jurisdiction in the Emergency Temporary Lodging program.

“It has been a long journey, and we look forward to assisting people as they transition to this next phase of their recovery from the Jan. 22 flood,” he said.

– City News Service