Year-end Brings Good News in Funding for Health & Wellness

$22.125 Million Awarded to Historic Barrios /Multiple, coordinated projects to benefit

The power of a coalition of community stakeholders in San Diego’s historic barrios was recognized and awarded with a $22 million grant through the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Implementation Grant program. The program funds neighborhood-level proposals that include multiple, coordinated projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve public health and the environment, and expand economic opportunity. The San Diego Foundation and the Environmental Health Coalition led the application process for the San Diego region.  

The TCC grant will help fund climate change resilient projects aimed at preserving, protecting, and strengthening San Diego’s Historic Barrios – Logan, Stockton, Grant Hill, Mt. Hope, Sherman, Southcrest, and Shelltown. These majority minority neighborhoods have suffered racist rezoning that has led to decades of toxic pollution and chronic disease like asthma. With high levels of poverty and rising rents, residents are at risk of being evicted and the whole community being gentrified. 

In the Mt. Hope neighborhood, Project New Village (2022 AHF i2 Awardee) will be one of the project recipients and will receive funding toward the development of the Village in Southeast San Diego. Project New Village will receive $2.5 million over the next five years. The funding will support pre-development design and permitting, building construction, site work and landscaping, as well as compensation for a Project Manager.

“This is a critical investment in an extremely well-deserving set of community projects, including Project New Village!” exclaimed Sarah Lyman, Executive Director, AHF. The residents of Southeast San Diego will soon have a community hub offering healthy food and coordinated opportunities to connect and grow as a thriving community.

TCC is an initiative of the Strategic Growth Council, with the CA Department of Conservation. The program funds community-led development and infrastructure projects that achieve major environmental, health and economic benefits in California’s most disadvantaged communities.

PARTNER UPDATES

147 SD Organizations Receive Prebys Foundation Grant / $30.6 million in regional support

Funding partner, the Prebys Foundation, announced awarding $30.6 million in grants to 147 San Diego organizations focused in these four program areas: Visual and Performing Arts, Youth Success, Healthcare, and Medical Research. We were delighted to see so many current and former AHF grantees on the list. Congratulations to all the grant recipients!

Funding Opportunity / Equity Impact Grant (EIG) program

The County’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) has launched a new initiative that will invest $2 million over two years into community-driven initiatives that address inequity, by building capacity among smaller organizations and bridge the equity gaps expressed by the community. Each year, 10 San Diego-based social impact organizations will receive a grant of $100,000 in general operating funds alongside workshops and coaching from USD’s Nonprofit Institute on topics like leadership, nonprofit governance, social change and innovation, fundraising, power-building, collective impact and organizational resiliency. The grant application is open until January 26, 2024. More here.

Survey Says… / Live Well SD Advance a success!

In case you were unable to attend the December 1st San Diego Live Well Advance, here’s a short video summarizing the day. Be sure to sign up early next year when registration opens. This year’s was a sold-out success.

 

 

Removing Barriers after Incarceration / CEO shares 2023 impact

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), 2021 Mission Support grantee, has had a good year in providing training and support to those seeking employment after being released from prison. They proudly share their results in this annual report and we’re proud to be a partner in their success.

San Diego accomplishments:

• 430 Individuals in Transitional Work gained hands-on, paid work experience and job coaching.
• $1,621,905 in Daily Pay for participants to support themselves and their families.
• 327 Job Placements in Unsubsidized full-time roles with 200+ employer partners.

 

Re-Purposing for Affordable Housing / Publicly-owned surplus land gets transformed

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has identified 11 publicly-owned properties to be transformed into affordable housing. These properties will serve families, seniors, veterans, unsheltered people, and people with disabilities. Three of the properties are under construction and the rest are in the development pipeline. See full story.

AHF is invested in other affordable housing projects not on this list on which we’ll provide updates in the New Year. In the meantime, we remain optimistic that the County and all community stakeholders are making progress in identifying and acting on solutions to our housing crisis.

# # #