SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The highly anticipated Vista del Puente affordable housing development – with half of its 52 units set aside for homeless Veterans – will celebrate its groundbreaking on August 3.
Vista del Puente is being developed by Townspeople and National CORE (National CORE), two highly respected nonprofit community builders, and will feature amenities and supportive services to help residents begin new chapters in their lives. In addition to the 26 units for homeless Veterans and their families, 12 units will be designated for non-Veteran homeless families. These 38 units for homeless San Diegans will receive rental assistance from federal rental housing vouchers awarded by the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) through its HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO homelessness action plan. Vista del Puente also will provide 13 traditional affordable units for individuals and families. One unit is set aside for the on-site manager.
Located in the Southcrest neighborhood of Southeastern San Diego, Vista del Puente will feature 2,500 square feet of community space for on-site case management and social services, such as: mental health services, substance abuse recovery, job training and job placement assistance to the Veteran population. Counseling and service programs will be tailored to meet the specific needs of residents.
Other features will include secured entry, a tot lot, barbecue area and laundry room.
“When you consider how great the need is – the 10,000 people in San Diego who are homeless, and our own eight-year waiting list – the importance of a project such as this cannot be overstated,” said Jon Derryberry, Executive Director of Townspeople. “Vista del Puente is the kind of community San Diego is looking for to help end homelessness, especially for our veterans. Townspeople is proud to partner with National CORE to make it a reality.”
Steve PonTell, Chief Executive Officer of National CORE, said Vista del Puente would not be possible without the support of a variety of community and financial partners. They include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of San Diego, and the San Diego Housing Commission which is investing $4 million awarded through HOUSING FIRST –SAN DIEGO; the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which awarded more than $3.3 million in Veterans Housing & Homeless Prevention program funding; Funders Together to End Homelessness San Diego, which awarded $100,000; The Home Depot Foundation granted $300,000; the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee; Pacific Western Bank; BBVA Compass Bank; California Bank & Trust; the California Community Reinvestment Corp.; the Corporation for Supportive Housing; the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; and Hudson Housing Capital.
“This is a true public-private partnership that serves a tremendous need,” PonTell said. “Getting a project such as this off the ground is an incredible achievement, made possible because of the commitment of funders and partners to providing stable housing and transforming lives.”
“Too many of our veterans and their families face major housing challenges, aggravated by issues like unemployment, age and service-related disabilities,” said Erica Headlee, Veteran Housing Grant Manager for The Home Depot Foundation. “We’re honored to be part of projects like this one that create solutions for veterans.”
“Low-income and homeless San Diegans, including Veterans, will gain new affordable rental opportunities with the construction of Vista del Puente. This public-private partnership development is an important part of HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO, the San Diego Housing Commission’s homelessness action plan,” said SDHC President & CEO Richard C. Gentry.
For more information on Vista del Puente, please email vistadelpuente@nationalcore.org.
 
GROUNDBREAKING INFORMATION
Time/Date: 10 a.m., Thursday, August 3, 2017
Address: 1436 S. 40th St., San Diego