By Dianne Jacob | Dianne’s Corner

Help on the home front: My colleagues on the Board of Supervisors recently joined me in stepping up the development of more affordable housing.

We agreed to award more than $13 million to six projects that will result in over 450 new homes for low-income seniors, veterans and others. The project list includes Villa de Vida, a 54-unit housing complex planned in Poway for those with developmental disabilities.

Many low-income veterans, seniors and families struggle to keep a roof over their heads. These awards are the latest step in our efforts to address this crisis.

Stop sex trafficking: State lawmakers recently gave local law enforcement and others additional tools to combat human trafficking.

A new state law requires the lodging industry to train employees on how to identify and interact with victims of sex exploitation, while another gives the District Attorney’s Office the ability to seek increased monetary judgements for victims in civil cases.

Sex trafficking, often involving young women and girls, remains rampant in our region. I will continue to do all I can to fight it.

Local heroes: It’s always great to honor community leaders for all their great deeds. Among those to recently receive a county proclamation is Dee Dean, who wrapped up a 20-year run as editor of the East County Herald.

Dee has been active with the Kiwanis Club, Stoney’s Kids, Multiple Sclerosis Society and many other groups. She has done all this while dealing with her own serious medical challenges.

Thank you, Dee, and thanks to all who work so hard to make East County an even better place.

—Dianne Jacob is San Diego County Supervisor for District 2. For more District 2 news, visit diannejacob.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For assistance with a county issue, call 619-531-5522 or email [email protected].