SAN DIEGO — Project Rest, a program overseen by the San Diego County of Education, has helped families affected by the January 22 storm that hit San Diego and left many displaced.
“We lost everything…everything,” motel voucher beneficiary Rene Garcia said.
Garcia is one of close to 100 families part of the San Diego Unified School District who received motel vouchers. The program is intended to provide short-term emergency motel stay.
“I received a phone call, they wanted to extend the voucher for another 10 days so I said thank god you know, because if not we’d be sleeping in the car or something,” Garcia said.
Garcia’s motel voucher will last until February 15. In the meantime, his home is undergoing repairs to soon move back in.
“The whole house just totally completely ruined,” Garcia said.
On top of getting displaced by the storm, he also suffered the loss of his father.
“He wasn't sick, he was just in bed rest you know, but due to the flood and all that and him being exposed to all that dirty water and everything it gave him pneumonia,” Garcia said.
During this time of need, students and their families are top priority for the SDUSD.
SDUSD Office of Children and Youth in Transition's Kristy Drake said they receive funding through grants and out of the American Rescue Plan, but it's running out.
“We had an allotted amount to last until an entirety of the year but I've used all of that in two weeks time,” she said.
Despite the funds running tight, Drake tells CBS 8 that families in the district affected will not be left without a place to stay.
“We are not going to leave any of our families outdoors or in their cars so we are extending and hopeful that some more stable housing relief will show up very very soon,” Drake said.
For more information on resources available visit sandiegounified.org.
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