SAN DIEGO — City of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced his proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year in April. The plan includes cuts in funding due to the city’s projected shortfall of about $136.8 million dollars.
“It was very surprising to see the mayor's budget earlier this week, especially seeing the reduction to homeless programs,” Legal Aid Society of San Diego Directing Attorney Gil Vera said.
Budget reductions would mean cutting funding from the San Diego Housing Commission which could impact many programs like the Eviction Prevention Program, which has been funded for about three years.
“Funding is ending in June and so without that funding being extended, there's going to be a lot less…we're not going to be able to represent city of san Diego tenants in the same capacity that we had over the past several years,” Vera said.
The program provides low-income families with free wrap around services including representation when they are going through evictions.
“Many renters cannot afford an attorney and so what this program has allowed is that it allows city of San Diego residents to have attorneys to represent them in eviction court,” Vera said.
A spokesperson for the Mayors office sent CBS 8 a statement: “We are working with the Housing Commission to identify ways to avoid cutting critical programs. These efforts will be reflected in the May Revise."
Rafael Bautista is part of the San Diego tenants union, he said that this budget proposal could affect many families in san Diego.
“It's gonna create a worse living environment for all San Diegans, rising costs, rising costs of housing, rising homelessness it all affects our collective spirit and it all affects our collective economy,” Bautista said.
The San Diego City Council will hold a public meeting on May eight where the community will have the opportunity to give their input.
WATCH RELATED: Mayor Gloria's budget proposal includes increased spending on homelessness, infrastructure