The county Board of Supervisors has voted 4-1 in favor of a plan that its sponsor describes as a first-of-its-kind partnership between the county and the private San Diego Foundation to protect essential services.
Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer said the Partnership to Protect San Diegans will combine county funds with philanthropic money “to help stabilize nonprofit providers, prevent service shutdowns and help families continue to access food, housing assistance, and health care as federal funding retreats.”
Referring to recent federal budget cuts in various social services, Lawson-Remer said working families “shouldn’t pay the price for decisions made in Washington.”
“These cuts are hitting our neighbors, seniors on fixed incomes and people already struggling to keep a roof over their heads,” she said, adding that up to $300 million “in new cost pressures are landing on the county because of federal red tape and funding freezes.”
“We can’t wait for Washington to fix this,” Lawson-Remer said. “We are the safety net, and this partnership is how we protect people right now.”
According to Lawson-Remer, the partnership, established via a memorandum of understanding, will involve:
- up to $36 million in county-contracted and nonprofit programs that would face cuts in food assistance, housing stability and health care
- doubling public dollars through a one-to-one match with the San Diego Foundation
- providing $8 million in quick relief through the San Diego Unity Fund, for food, housing, and health programs throughout the county
- saving the county an estimated $13 million over two years
Mark Stuart, the foundation’s president and CEO, said nonprofits “are on the front lines helping San Diegans stay housed, nourished and healthy.”
“We are grateful to work alongside the county and our philanthropic partners during this period of heightened need,” he added.
Supervisor Jim Desmond voted against the proposal on Tuesday. He said it was a great idea for the foundation to pay for part of the contracts, but he felt the board letter’s language was too political and somewhat misleading. People won’t lose federal assistance if they follow rules such as offering to volunteer or enroll in school, Desmond said.
He also took issue with the proposal not needing further board approval.
“It sounds great, but I’d like to see it before it comes back,” Desmond added.
Lawson-Remer said that because time was of the essence, she was not going to support it returning for a second board vote.
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