SAN DIEGO — On Thursday, the nonprofit Jamboree as well as San Diego City and county officials are celebrating the grand opening of a new apartment building. They want to show what a permanent supportive housing development looks like to the community.
They said this type of housing will not only help address the homelessness crisis but it is already saving lives. We spoke with Laura Archeulta, the President of Jamboree.
“So, oftentimes we think okay, let’s just get them housed. Let’s just maybe put them into a shelter. Let’s put them into an apartment," Archuleta said. "And they don’t think about what is truly needed to ensure these residents. These folks that these people from our community could be successful in their housing.”
On Thursday, the apartment complex showed off the kitchen portion of the building and the different designs available. Laura Archuleta put it into perspective, describing what the new housing means for some.
Some people are suffering from chronic illness so the transition from living on the streets to an apartment is difficult. She said they've noticed some people who end up still sleeping in their cars because they haven't adapted to the reality of having a home.
This is what those on-site supportive services are designed for.
Now, the development is meant to offer permanent housing to people battling homelessness—and also to senior residents. It has 64 units that are either one, two, or three-bedroom apartments.
It is located in the heart of San Ysidro to purposely bring convenient access to nearby grocery stores. The apartment complex is also built at the location because there is a need for affordable housing in San Ysidro and all of the South Bay.
Now what makes this a permanent supportive housing development is the the free wrap-around services. Archuleta says this is important when it comes to building affordable housing.
They need services that give people the help they need so they don't end up back in the streets. Some of those services also include ESL classes, life skills training, job training, financial empowerment, after-school programs for kids and they have healthcare access.
The services also extend to the surrounding neighborhoods.
Those living in the area already signed up through the county and from there they went through a qualification process.