Gloria advances affordable housing in tough economy

Khadija Basir, a single mother and a San Diego housing commissioner, addresses a press conference on affordable housing at the site of the former North Park Inn at University Avenue and Oregon Street, which is being transformed into a rental development. Councilman Todd Gloria looks on.

By Ruby Cougler

Standing amid the rubble and construction noise of what was until recently a seedy motel and a hotbed of criminal activity, Councilman Todd Gloria touted recent strides to prevent homelessness and promote homeownership in San Diego.
Gloria held a press conference at the site of the former North Park Inn at the corner of University Avenue and Oregon Street, which is being transformed into a17-unit rental facility for men dually diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse issues who have completed the Pathfinders recovery program.
The project is just one example of the work on which the San Diego City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee has focused. Gloria, chair of the committee, explained that San Diego received $6.1 million in stimulus money to fund efforts to “rehouse” foreclosed individuals and $9.4 million in Neighborhood Stabilization dollars to help buyers purchase foreclosed properties. He also noted the creation of 693 new affordable housing units and plans to add 1,303 more in the coming year.
Addressing what could be perceived as a surplus of affordable housing projects in the greater North Park area, Gloria explained the projects address an already existent population of people in need of housing rather than an influx of needy residents. Still, he supports a balanced approach. “Every community should have a supply of affordable housing and, for those who think this should go everywhere, I couldn’t agree more.”
Khadija Basir, a single mother and previous recipient of housing assistance who was eventually able to buy a home and take a position as a San Diego housing commissioner, joined Gloria at the press conference. She described how she used the Family Self Sufficiency Program and financial workshops to transition out of rental assistance and into homeownership. Basir spoke of “the wide range of programs available to those who qualify and are willing to take the time to apply.”
Although Gloria referred to Basir as a “role model,” he acknowledged that not everyone can expect such an ideal outcome. “We have an aggressive plan in place to try and address the needs for affordable housing in San Diego, but it’s never enough,” he said. “We know we won’t solve this problem entirely.”
The waiting list for Section 8 housing assistance is 35,000 and the city has yet to site a permanent homeless shelter. “The economy is tough and people are hurting,” said Gloria. “This committee chairman gets it.”