San Diego, CA
$17M grant to help hundreds of homeless living along San Diego river
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Hundreds of people living along the San Diego River will be able to transition out of homelessness with the help of outreach teams and a $17 million grant.
ABC 10News stopped by an encampment on the river off Friars Road where Arthur Bowen has lived for three years. The encampment can only be accessed during low tide.
“I mean, who could complain about living on an island in a bungalow, you know?” said Bowen.
Bowen shared he’s been homeless ever since his wife died in Seattle a decade ago.
“I couldn’t stay up there…it was depressing,” he said.
While Bowen says living along the water has some perks, he says trash and debris have become a growing problem.
“It’d be nice if they put a dumpster out here,” he said.
The San Diego River Park Foundation estimates there are 40,000 pounds of trash and debris on the island where Bowen lives.
It’s an environmental problem the foundation is trying to solve compassionately – working alongside homeless outreach teams. And now there’s new state funding to help.
“We’re very excited to see this investment in addressing the root cause,” said Sarah Hutmacher, Chief Operating Officer with the foundation.
Hutmacher explains that $17 million dollars in grant funding was secured last year to help transition an estimated 300 people living along the San Diego River out of homelessness, and those efforts are now underway.
More than $3 million of that funding will go toward the City of San Diego.
“Now, the interesting thing about this grant, which is kind of unique, is that the funding is flexible,” said Matt Hoffman, a spokesperson with the City of San Diego.
Hoffman explains these dollars will go not just towards outreach – but also towards housing and even medical care for unhoused individuals for up to two years.
“And the idea behind that is we don’t want someone to return to homelessness,” he said.
Hoffman says they hope to continue intensive outreach efforts for several months so the encampment can be cleared by the fall.
Housing developer National CORE, the San Diego Housing Commission, the county and city of San Diego celebrated the grand opening Tuesday of a 100-unit affordable housing community in San Ysidro.
The Iris, 1663 Dairy Mart Road, is across the street from a trolley stop and the newly renovated Howard Lane Park. It features 42 one-bedroom, 32 two-bedroom, and 25 three-bedroom apartments for low-income families and individuals, along with a manager’s unit.
“I am proud to support The Iris at San Ysidro because it reflects the kind of thoughtful development our region needs,” said San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. “It is housing that is affordable, sustainable and connected to parks, transit and community services.”
Residents at The Iris have “extremely low,” to low income making anywhere from 25% to 60% of the Area Median Income. AMI is $130,800 for a family of two, $165,500 for a family of four, according to the county’s figures.
The Iris includes 15 permanent supportive housing units for people who have experienced homelessness and 50 apartments designed to support residents with mobility challenges and five homes for people with hearing loss.
All units at The Iris will be required to remain affordable for 55 years for households with income up to 60% of San Diego’s Area Median Income.
SDHC awarded 25 housing vouchers to The Iris to help pay rent for residents with extremely low income. These vouchers are tied directly to this development, so that when a household moves on, the voucher stays to help another household with extremely low income.
The project was developed by National CORE and featured public/private partnerships, such as a county investment of $5 million from the Innovative Housing Trust Fund and $6.5 million in No Place Like Home funds. County Behavioral Health Services will also provide supportive services to residents for the next 20 years.
The Iris includes a community room with office space, a laundry room and a courtyard play area with outdoor seating.
City News Service contributed to this article.
TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Trade
- SD receive: Lewis Morgan, $525k GAM
- RBNY receive: Up to $1.1m GAM, SuperDraft pick
San Diego FC have acquired midfielder Lewis Morgan from Red Bull New York, the clubs announced Tuesday.
In exchange for the 29-year-old Scottish international, New York will receive up to $1.1 million in General Allocation Money (GAM). The funds include $450k guaranteed GAM in 2026 and up to $650k in conditional GAM.
The Red Bulls retain a portion of Morgan’s 2026 salary budget charge and receive San Diego’s natural third-round pick in the 2027 MLS SuperDraft. Additionally, San Diego will get $525k GAM in 2027 from New York.
Morgan is under contract with San Diego through 2026 with club options for 2027 and 2028.
“Lewis is an attacker who can play across the front three and brings qualities that will add to our group in 2026,” said SDFC sporting director Tyler Heaps.
“He’s proven he can contribute goals and assists in this league, and we look forward to welcoming him to San Diego when we start preseason in the new year.”
Morgan has spent the past six seasons in MLS, starting with Inter Miami CF (2020-21) before getting traded to New York (2022-25).
The former Celtic attacker was named the 2024 MLS Comeback Player of the Year and helped the Red Bulls make MLS Cup presented by Audi that season. He missed most of the 2023 and 2025 campaigns due to injury.
For his MLS career, Morgan has 38g/17a in 140 combined games (all competitions) with Miami and New York.
He’s earned seven caps with Scotland, including at UEFA Euro 2024.
“Lewis has always handled himself with the utmost professionalism, through many tough moments in his career and many fantastic ones,” said RBNY head of sport Julian de Guzman.
“We wish Lewis the best of luck in San Diego.”
San Diego are coming off a historic debut season, where they set expansion club records for points (63) and wins (19). They made the Western Conference Final in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Red Bulls are in reset mode after seeing their 15-year playoff streak end. They finished 10th in the Eastern Conference table (43 points).
Jack Alioto
OBITUARY
Jack Alioto, 90, passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Vigil: Dec. 17, 9:30 AM-12 PM, East County Mortuary, 374 Magnolia Ave., El Cajon. Funeral Mass: 9 AM, Our Lady of the Rosary, 1668 State St., Little Italy. Burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorial lunch afterward at Glenwood Springs Clubhouse, Scripps Ranch.
See Eastcountymortuary.com for additional information.
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