Councilmember Gloria launches online ‘Toolbox’ to end family homelessness by 2020
By Ashley Mackin | SDUN Editor
Organizers of Keys to Housing, a city-wide initiative aiming to end family homelessness by 2020, launched their website on Nov. 3 at a press conference. District 3 Councilmember and Chair of the Keys to Housing coalition Todd Gloria unveiled the online “Toolbox” to help resolve the issue of family homelessness in San Diego.
Keys to Housing statistics state an estimated 13,200 children in the San Diego region are homeless, with approximately 1,700 of them living on the street, in cars or in shelters in 2010 alone.
Featuring tools for individuals, community organizations, government and businesses, the website outlines five key areas of concern. Incorporated into the five areas are a total of eight desired outcomes.
Gloria said of the initiative, “family homelessness is a challenge for cities throughout the San Diego region, and Keys to Housing used a collaborative ap¬proach and developed a flexible Toolbox to help ensure success throughout the county.”
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is partnering with the Keys to Housing initiative, and HUD Regional Administrator Ophelia Basgal said her organization is pleased to play an integral part.
“The combination of the investment of philanthropy, the wisdom of several cities working together and the commitment of business and service agencies can bring about the collective impact needed to end family homelessness,” she said.
Gloria said, “We’ve combined best practices from all over the country; we know these tools can work. Now it’s up to local leaders to implement the tools that will make the most difference moving San Diego’s families into sustainable housing options.”
The first key area the initiative will focus on is Leadership and Advocacy, with the two desired outcomes of “policies are changed, created or implement¬ed to increase stability and support families” and “a sustainable structure is created to ensure implementation of goals.”
The second key area is Capacity, Data and Coordination of Services and Resources, with the desired outcome being to have “Multiple pathways exist to access resources, centralize information, and increase capacity and coordination of services and agencies.”
The third key area is Permanent Affordable Housing, aiming to “Increase the number of affordable housing units in the region.”
The fourth key area is Increased Economic Security and Stability, focusing on “Family members are fully employed and moving toward self-sufficiency wages” and “Families increase financial stability and move to self-sufficiency.”
The fifth and final key area is Prevention, with the desired outcome being “Families are identified as at-risk and assisted prior to losing housing” and “Reduce the number of families in poverty that enter homelessness.”
The website also features a calendar of local events related to homelessness, a place to send letters of support to City Council and County Board of Supervisors members and personal stories.
The San Diego City Council now has the option to endorse the initiative and the support the initiative by taking the legislative action outlined in the Toolbox. Primarily, the first key area of Leadership and Advocacy would require action from local governing bodies.
Keys to Housing was established in May 2010 by a collaboration of private funders, elected officials, government agencies and other stakeholders working with San Diego Grantmakers (SDG). SDG is a nonprofit membership association of organizations that raises funds for various projects.
SDG Homelessness Working Group chair Mary Herron said “The Keys to Housing project is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when everyone comes to the table around an issue.”
For more information and to download the full Toolbox, visit keystohousing.org.
