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Housing and Supportive/Care Services

San Diego is experiencing a housing crisis and our LGBTQ community is significantly impacted. The Center is extremely proud of our work to help LGBTQ people who are experiencing housing insecurity or experiencing homelessness though our housing continuum. Housing insecurity and homelessness create other impacts on a person’s health and well-being and The Center is deeply committed to doing all we can to support them. The Center also provides rental assistance and many surrounding services and resources to prevent homelessness.

Please reach out to housingservices@thecentersd.org for more information.

San Diego County CoC Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Multiparty Authorization to Use and/or Disclose Information

SERVICES

SUNBURST YOUTH HOUSING PROJECT

The Center’s cutting-edge Sunburst Youth Housing Project provides safe and supportive housing for youth experiencing homelessness between 18-24, including LBGTQ and youth living with HIV. Click icon to read more.

NORTH PARK SENIOR APARTMENTS

North Park Senior Apartments offers 76 apartments at San Diego’s first LGBTQ-affirming affordable senior complex – at its completion, one of a handful across the country. Click icon to read more.

KARIBU

Karibu is scattered-site permanent supporting housing program that supports those ages 18 and older with critical support services, connection to health care, education and employment support. Click icon to read more.

LGBTQ SAFE STAY WELLNESS CENTER

The LGBTQ Safe STAY Wellness Center program provides up to 21 beds and supportive services to unhoused youth ages 18-24 in the City of San Diego.
Click icon to read more.

HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND DIVERSION

This Program is designed to assist individuals & families in the County of San Diego who are facing housing instability or are currently unhoused. Click icon to read more.

PROJECT COMPASSION

Project Compassion is a tangible, action-based program that offers direct supportive resources for those experiencing homelessness. Click icon to read more. ​

HOST HOME PROGRAM

The Host Home Program identifies, screens, and trains community members who are known to the youth (18-24) and are willing to host them in their home on a short or long-term basis. Click icon to read more.

FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM

Seeks to reconnect LGBTQ youth with their families, when safe and appropriate, and family receives counseling and supportive services. Click icon to read more.

Permanent and Supportive Housing

SUNBURST YOUTH HOUSING PROJECT

The Center’s cutting-edge Sunburst Youth Housing Project was created to provide safe and supportive housing for San Diego’s homeless youth between 18-24, including LBGTQ and youth living with HIV.

These high-risk youth were living in the streets or in public spaces, many after having been ejected from their homes because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. A major goal of the project is to ensure that youth have easy access to needed services that will support them in maintaining stable housing. Youth are also provided connection to critical support services such as case management, connection to health care, on-site mental health services, benefits enrollment, HIV testing, life skills training, educational and employment support. The 23-unit facility is located in downtown San Diego, is close to City College, public transportation, community health facilities, and other essential resources. The facility is wheelchair accessible and contains two units that have been retrofitted to accommodate persons in wheelchairs. This project has been made possible by the leadership and vision of Rev. Tony Freeman, Dr. Heather Berberet, San Diego City Councilmember Toni Atkins, Jennifer LeSar, The Center and its project collaborators — YMCA Youth and Family Services, San Diego Youth and Community Services, Metropolitan Community Church, Walden Family Services and the Chadwick Center at Children’s Hospital.

Please note that all vacancies must be filled through the region's Coordinated Entry System. Contact: housingservices@thecentersd.org

NORTH PARK SENIOR APARTMENTS

North Park Senior Apartments offers 76 apartments at San Diego’s first LGBTQ-affirming affordable senior complex – at its completion, one of a handful across the country. Open to all, North Park Senior Apartments provides an affirming, affordable, and supportive community. The Center provides on-site programming and case management to residents who are formerly homeless. The Center worked for a decade with Community Housing Works to gain support and funding for the complex. Contact: seniors@thecentersd.org

KARIBU

Karibu is a 20 unit, scattered-site permanent supporting housing program that supports those ages 18 and older. The twenty one units are located across San Diego County. Residents receive critical support services such as case management, connection to health care, benefits enrollment, HIV testing, life skills training, educational and employment support.

Please note that all vacancies must be filled through the region's Coordinated Entry System. Contact: housingservices@thecentersd.org

Youth/Family Emergency Housing and Support Services

LGBTQ SAFE STAY WELLNESS CENTER

The LGBTQ Safe STAY Wellness Center provides up to 21 non-congregate beds and supportive services to unhoused person ages 18-24 years old in the City of San Diego. LGBTQ-empowering staff and case managers provide access to resources and referrals, with a focus on helping young people connect with more permanent housing opportunities. Additional services include, but are not limited to: meals, peer support, showers, laundry services, and linkages to community resources. For additional information and/or information about current vacancies, or to inquire about a bed, contact: housingservices@thecentersd.org or 619.694.6182. LGBTQ Safe STAY is a program of The San Diego LGBT Community Center in partnership with YMCA Youth and Family Services and San Diego Youth Services.

HOST HOME PROGRAM

Forty percent of youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ, and the majority of these youth cite family rejection as the reason why. The Center’s Host Home Program identifies, screens, and trains community members who are known to the youth (18-24) and are willing to host them in their home on a short or long-term basis. The host-home program is a cost-effective way to provide LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness with a safe place to stay and a chance to better access support services. Contact: housingservices@thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077.

FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM

The Family Reunification Program seeks to reconnect LGBTQ youth with their families, when safe and appropriate, while the entire family receives counseling and supportive services. Support services may include transportation to where family is located, local resources for families, connection to mental health services, and support groups at The Center. Contact: housingservices@thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077.

Services and Resources for Adults

HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND DIVERSION

The Center’s Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Program is designed to assist individuals and families in the County of San Diego who are facing housing instability or are currently unhoused. Eligible clients in need of homelessness prevention services are able to receive temporary rental assistance, rental deposit assistance, housing navigation, budgeting resources, utility assistance, and short-term case management services. Case management includes referrals to shelter solutions and other housing support providers, sober living/residential treatment, LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare, benefits enrollment assistance, and internal referrals to The Center's programs. For more information, contact: housingservices@thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077. *Funding for rental assistance is suspended or paused as of now. Case management services and referrals are still available.

PROJECT COMPASSION

Project Compassion is a tangible, action-based program that offers direct supportive resources for unhoused and resource-impacted community members. It is a weekly event that occurs every Thursday from 10am-2pm in the Main Center lobby, providing community members with needed items like socks, toiletries, clothes, food, and water. The program also connects community members to internal and external resources through Prevention and Diversion case management.

HIV Specialty Services

Through their work, Project Compassion team realized that 30% of the unhoused clients they assisted were living with HIV. The Center partners with local organizations to provide temporary hotel vouchers and enrollment in programs that offer transitional and permanent housing.

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