San Diego, CA

Officials believe San Diego is well positioned as cities compete for dwindling state homeless dollars

Published

2 months ago

January 25, 2026

Officials believe San Diego is well positioned as cities compete for dwindling state homeless dollars

Gov. Gavin Newsom warned recently that cities and counties could lose state funds targeted at addressing homelessness if they don’t show real progress in getting people off the streets.

In San Diego, local officials say they’re finally starting to see that progress.

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness reported a roughly 7% drop in homelessness countywide in last year’s point-in-time count, from about 10,605 people in 2024 to about 9,905 in 2025.

In the city of San Diego, homelessness — sheltered and unsheltered — dropped by 14%.

In his recent State of the City address, Mayor Todd Gloria pointed to the reduction as proof that the city’s approach to homelessness is working.

That progress puts the San Diego region in a relatively strong position as the state tightens the rules around Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention funding, known as HHAP — one of the largest sources of state money for homelessness programs — and as other funding sources shrivel.

Temporary fix grows important

HHAP was launched in 2019 as a one-time infusion of state cash to help cities and counties respond to the growing homelessness crisis. Over several years, it became one of California’s key homelessness programs, delivering roughly $1 billion a year statewide for shelters, outreach, rental assistance and interim housing.

That changed last year, when lawmakers approved no new HHAP funding amid a budget shortfall. Newsom proposed restoring the program in the upcoming budget, but at about half its previous size — $500 million — and attaching stricter accountability requirements.

To qualify for future funding, cities and counties must show they are doing a number of things the governor has pushed: adopting strong encampment policies, maintaining a state-approved plan to build new housing, earning a “pro-housing” designation from regulators, putting up local matching dollars and showing measurable progress at reducing homelessness.

San Diego officials say the region checks those boxes.

Both the city and county have encampment ordinances that align with Newsom’s “model” policy and have stepped up enforcement in recent years. Each also has a state-approved housing element, and San Diego was among the first cities in California to earn a pro-housing designation, which the state gives to jurisdictions that streamline approvals and adopt policies aimed at increasing housing production. The county followed soon after.

City leaders say they have used HHAP dollars to provide more shelter beds, rent subsidies and outreach teams to get people off the street and into stable housing. The county has used the money to provide housing subsidies for at-risk populations, such as foster youth and seniors, and develop plans for emergency housing programs.

Frustration in Sacramento

Walt Bishop, director of government affairs for the city of San Diego, said the region has been preparing for the accountability shift.

“There was frustration from the governor’s office and the Legislature that (they’re) putting a lot of state investment in this and not seeing visual results on homelessness,” he said.

Bishop said the city believes it can meet those expectations.

“You give us this money, we will be accountable,” he said. “You set the markers, and we’ll meet them.”

But housing officials and advocates warn that without new, ongoing funding — especially long-term funding — the region could struggle to sustain the improvements it’s made.

Funding sources that helped fuel recent gains, including federal housing vouchers tied to affordable housing projects, are tapped out, even as the need for deeply affordable housing continues to grow.

Ryan Clumpner, a San Diego Housing Commission board member, said recent progress has relied in part on state funding that’s temporary or, like HHAP, inconsistent.

“We are running out of options at a rapid pace, and every intervention that people are familiar with — almost all of those are coming to an end in the next one to three years,” he said. “And there’s really no plan for what we’ll do after that.”

Buying hotels, building shelters

San Diego Housing Commission CEO Lisa Jones said federal programs, such as housing vouchers, along with state funding, including HHAP and Homekey, have been “foundational” to San Diego’s homelessness response, helping boost the number of shelter beds, develop permanent supportive housing and stabilize people at risk of losing their homes.

Homekey, a state initiative launched during the pandemic, helped cities buy hotels, motels and other properties and convert them into housing for people experiencing homelessness.

San Diego used Homekey funds to create more than 600 housing units. The program is now winding down, and state officials have not indicated it will continue at the same scale.

“The reduction or elimination of these funding sources would hinder further progress,” Jones said, adding that the commission is now placing greater emphasis on homelessness prevention and housing stabilization to keep people from falling into the system in the first place.

Federal housing vouchers, which have played a key role in San Diego’s response to homelessness, are also under increasing strain.

Stephen Russell, executive director of the San Diego Housing Federation, said vouchers have effectively been frozen at the federal level for years.

“Meanwhile, rents have gone through the roof,” he said.

Vouchers generally require tenants to pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the voucher covering the rest, up to certain limits. As rents rise, that gap grows.

“The Housing Commission was essentially subsidizing the gap,” he said.

That money is now gone.

Voucher squeeze

Earlier this year, the Housing Commission decided to require some voucher holders to pay a larger share of their income toward rent, rather than cutting people off from assistance altogether.

“The choice was, do we take vouchers away from 1,600 families… or do we ask everybody who’s capable to pay some more? And so they’ve gone with that second choice,” he said. “It was unacceptable to them as policymakers to put people out on the streets.”

The voucher squeeze also affects what kinds of housing developers are able to build.

Affordable housing projects typically rely on a complicated mix of tax credits, public subsidies and private financing. For households earning less than 30% of area median income — including many people exiting homelessness — rent alone does not cover the cost of operating housing.

When someone has almost no income, the math just doesn’t work without a subsidy, Russell said.

“If they can only pay $300 a month, but it costs you $700 or $1,000 a month to pay the mortgage on that unit, that’s where the voucher comes in,” he said.

Those subsidies, known as project-based vouchers, are especially important for permanent supportive housing, which pairs housing with services for people with serious health or behavioral health needs.

Without vouchers, Russell said, developers are unlikely to bring forward new projects serving the lowest-income residents.

Gains at riskCity and county officials say that HHAP funding has played a major role in preventing homelessness from getting worse, even if that impact isn’t always obvious.

In a recent presentation on Newsom’s budget, Monica Saucedo, a senior fellow at the California Budget and Policy Center, said declines in homelessness show that targeted spending has worked.

“Over the last several years, the state has invested over $1 billion on average annually through (HHAP), and the results speak for themselves,” she said.

But Saucedo warned that scaling back the program could undo those gains.

“Even though HHAP was designed as temporary funding, these dollars have become core to California’s homelessness response systems statewide,” she said. “Losing or pulling back this funding now poses a real risk to the progress we’ve made.”

Russell put it more bluntly: “Turn off the tap and see how many people come flooding back out on the streets.”

At the same time, forces driving homelessness — high rents, limited housing supply and economic instability — continue to operate at a much larger scale.

“The system producing homelessness is still running full speed,” Russell said. “We’re just trying to keep up.”

There are some potential sources of relief. Recent federal legislation expanded low-income housing tax credits, which could help finance more affordable housing, Russell said. State lawmakers are also debating a large housing bond that could go before voters later this year.

Locally, proposals to create dedicated revenue streams — such as taxing second homes or short-term rentals — could provide more predictable funding, though those ideas remain controversial.

A spokesperson for Mayor Todd Gloria acknowledged the risk posed by shrinking state and federal support, but said the city is preparing to adjust.

“The mayor has warned that a reduction in state and federal support can erode the progress we’ve made,” David Rolland said. “But he is quick to point out that, as we always do, we will aim to maximize limited resources.”

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San Diego, CA

New Venues in San Diego for Spring 2026 Meetings and Events

Published

8 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

New Venues in San Diego for Spring 2026 Meetings and Events

Here’s a closer look at San Diego’s newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this spring. The new and renovated San Diego venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.

Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge

Photo: James Tran

Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge has debuted a redesigned dining and lounge space in the heart of La Jolla, blending modern elegance with globally inspired design. Led by restaurateur Sami Ladeki, the venue features standout elements like a gold-brushed statement wall, sculptural ceiling installations by Milan-based artist Mirei Monticello, a dramatic fireplace framed by Buddha statues, and a leathered quartzite bar that anchors the space. The 5,700-square-foot restaurant accommodates up to 230 guests seated or 300 reception-style, with full buyouts available, plus a covered patio with heaters that extends the footprint for year-round events. Additional options include a 12-seat private dining room and two semiprivate spaces for 18 and 34 guests. Executive chef Alfie Szeprethy leads a globally inspired, shareable menu—from sushi and dumplings to wok-fired dishes and signature plates like Polynesian Crab Stack and Japanese hot rock steak—paired with a beverage program featuring premium sake, wine, and craft cocktails.

Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar

Photo: Courtesy of Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar

Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar debuted in November 2025 at The Westgate Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, offering a design-forward dining destination that blends French culinary tradition with a relaxed California sensibility. Designed by Jacoi Mann, the space features deep blue and gold tones, velvet seating, and softly lit chandeliers, creating a setting that feels both polished and inviting for group dining and social gatherings. The all-day concept is led by executive chef Fabrice Hardel, whose menu reimagines classic French dishes with locally sourced ingredients, from Burgundy escargot and French onion soup to seafood specialties and modern American-inspired plates. Overall, the 222-room Westgate Hotel has 12 meeting and event spaces and four culinary concepts.

Diamond Room

Photo: Eric Scire/Finest Collective

Diamond Room opened in January inside the historic Simon Levi Building at Gallagher Square in San Diego’s Petco Park, bringing an intimate, retro-chic cocktail experience to the Ballpark District. Developed by Patina Group and Finest Collective—the newly rebranded events and hospitality division of the San Diego Padres—the 50-seat lounge channels a late-1970s aesthetic with velvet, leather, mirrors, and a disco ball, creating a moody, design-forward setting for small gatherings and VIP events. The cocktail program focuses on elevated classics with a local twist—like a clarified margarita and a nitro-infused Garibaldi—while a menu of shareable bites complements the experience. The venue also offers interactive “Shaken & Stirred” mixology classes for small groups. Located steps from the Gaslamp Quarter, the space is available for buyouts and group bookings.

Dora Ristorante

Photo: Kimberly Motos

Dora Ristorante opened near the La Jolla Playhouse at UC San Diego, bringing a coastal Italian dining concept from the team behind Cori Trattoria to the city’s theater district. Led by chef Accursio Lota, the restaurant draws inspiration from southern Italy with a California twist, featuring handmade pastas, Mediterranean seafood, and a house gelato program designed for sharing. Located steps from the theater, Dora offers a pre-theater dining experience with a rotating three-course menu inspired by current productions, as well as options for full-service dinners and wine pairings. The venue includes multiple event spaces, from a 14- to 16-seat private dining room to a main dining room, bar lounge, and patio, with full buyouts accommodating up to 130 seated or 180 guests for receptions.

Paradise Point Resort & Spa

Photo: Courtesy of Paradise Point Resort & Spa

Paradise Point Resort & Spa has completed a full renovation of its conference center, reimagining more than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space with a coastal-inspired design and enhanced technology. Located on a 44-acre island in Mission Bay, the refreshed venues—including the Paradise Ballroom, Sunset Ballroom, and Mission Bay Ballroom—feature abundant natural light, flexible layouts, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow, with many spaces opening onto waterfront terraces or lawns. Upgrades include integrated lighting, advanced AV capabilities, and high-speed connectivity to support both in-person and hybrid events, alongside sustainability-focused enhancements like LED lighting and eco-conscious materials. Beyond the meeting rooms, groups can take advantage of on-site amenities such as waterfront dining, a full-service spa, five pools, and beachside activities.

Fox Point Farms

Photo: Courtesy of Fox Point Farms

Fox Point Farms in Encinitas is a newly developed regenerative farm and event destination designed for immersive, multi-moment gatherings. The multi-acre working property blends indoor and outdoor venues with on-site food and beverage programs, live music capabilities, and a strong emphasis on sustainability and seasonality, allowing events to flow between gardens, fields, and dining spaces. The venue has already hosted corporate buyouts, private celebrations, and large-scale gatherings, with programming that integrates food, drink, and environment in a way that feels cohesive and place-driven. A standout feature for planners is the on-site wellness studio, which offers private group classes ranging from yoga and Pilates to sound healing and mindfulness.

Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters

Photo: Courtesy of Wedgewood Weddings

Wedgewood Weddings at The Headquarters has debuted in San Diego’s Seaport Village, transforming the city’s historic 1939 police headquarters into a 15,000-square-foot event venue that blends art deco heritage with modern design. The waterfront property features a range of flexible spaces for meetings and social events, including the Velvet Lounge, a speakeasy-inspired cocktail space with a circular bar and jewel-toned finishes, and the Gilded Hall, which accommodates up to 280 guests seated beneath exposed beams and statement chandeliers. Additional highlights include two VIP suites—The Rose Room and The Vault—designed for pre-event gatherings and photo moments. Located minutes from the San Diego Convention Center and airport, the venue offers a turnkey option for corporate events, galas, and celebrations within a landmark setting.

Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy

Photo: Courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy

Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy opened in November 2025, bringing a 334-room hotel with design-forward suites and more than 10,000 square feet of event space to one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Located in the heart of Little Italy, the property offers a range of flexible venues—including the Amici Ballroom and Cardini Boardroom—suited for everything from intimate receptions to conferences. Guest accommodations include spacious, townhouse-style suites with features like lofted layouts, Juliet balconies, and dedicated living areas. On-site amenities include Orexi, a Mediterranean-California restaurant serving shareable plates and cocktails, along with a rooftop Skydeck pool, sunset terrace with a fireplace, and a fitness center with Peloton bikes.

Ox Coffee Roasters

Photo: Courtesy of Ox Coffee Roasters

Ox Coffee Roasters in Mission Valley is now offering its storefront for private events, providing a casual, community-driven setting for small gatherings and interactive experiences. Located near several convention hotels, the venue accommodates up to 40 guests and can host everything from morning mixers to hands-on latte art classes and coffee tastings led by resident expert Chris Dennis, a competitor in national roasting competitions like the U.S. Brewers Cup Championship. In addition to its coffee program, Ox serves tea, including matcha, and a small menu of pastries and light bites, making it a flexible option for low-key networking events, workshops, and group experiences.

Bacari North Park

Photo: Jakob Layman

Bacari North Park opened in February, marking the San Diego debut of the LA-born, family-owned Mediterranean wine bar in one of North Park’s most recognizable two-story buildings. Known for its shareable, seasonally rotating menu, Bacari offers Mediterranean-inspired small plates, wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and an extensive wine list in a setting designed to feel like an elevated dinner party. The new location spans two levels plus an outdoor patio, making it a flexible option for group dining, receptions, and full buyouts.

NÓMADA

Photo: Kimberly Motos

NÓMADA opened in Carlsbad from Grand Restaurant Group, bringing a regionally driven Mexican dining concept inspired by chef Alex Carballo’s Sinaloan roots and travels throughout Mexico’s coastal and agricultural regions. The menu highlights traditional techniques with a focus on coastal seafood, featuring dishes like Birria Chimichanga Bites, Duck Mole Taco Trio, and Cochinita Pibil. Designed for gatherings, the restaurant offers a mix of indoor dining rooms, an open-air patio, and a lively bar with a live music stage, creating a flexible setting for group dining, celebrations, and private events.

Life Time Otay Ranch

Photo: Robert Reyes

Life Time Otay Ranch opened in December 2025 in Chula Vista as the brand’s first San Diego-area destination built from the ground up, bringing a 150,000-square-foot athletic country club and wellness-focused gathering space to South County. Designed as a two-level, all-in-one lifestyle hub, the property features a 26,000-square-foot workout floor, dedicated group training studios, indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, and a more than 50,000-square-foot outdoor beach club with pools, dining, and lounge areas. In addition to fitness and recreation, the venue includes a Kids Academy, LifeSpa, and LifeCafe, making it a versatile option for wellness-driven corporate events, team-building experiences, and community-focused gatherings.

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San Diego, CA

Sir Mohamed Mansour brought a global movement to San Diego, and nearly won MLS Cup in Year 1

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Sir Mohamed Mansour brought a global movement to San Diego, and nearly won MLS Cup in Year 1

As Sir Mohamed Mansour was finalizing a deal with the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation to invest in San Diego FC in 2022, he reflected on their combined history. The Sycuan said they’d lived in the San Diego region for 12,000 years. Mansour looked to his own Egyptian culture’s 7,000-year existence.

“If we have 19,000 years of history we can’t lose,” said the 78-year-old.

When San Diego FC finally lost in the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs, it was in the Western Conference finals, capping the best debut season in the league’s history. Mansour spoke about the experience Thursday morning during the Business of Soccer conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“The first game, to me, meant everything. That night was a sleepless night because I’m very passionate about soccer,” he said.

Mansour would have settled for a respectable loss; they were playing defending MLS Cup champs L.A. Galaxy. But San Diego FC scored twice unanswered, winning the opener. And another sleepless night ensued.

Mansour discussed early life health issues, including being hit by a car when he was 10 years old, which left him bed-ridden for three years. He read American comic books and studied. His family’s wealth was confiscated by the Egyptian government during a 1965 revolution, and he later beat cancer as a 20-year-old while studying in the U.S.

Now the billionaire chairman of Mansour Group, an Egyptian conglomerate owned by his family, Mansour is also chairman of the Right To Dream Academy, which has made San Diego its fifth outpost. San Diego FC’s $150M Sharp HealthCare Performance Center includes residences and a school for Right To Dream participants in the club’s academy system. Mansour mentioned his plans to construct 100 pitches for underprivileged kids in San Diego.

“We are more than a football academy. We’re a global movement, built upon the belief that everyone has the right to dream,” said Mansour. “We’ve been rewriting the rules of talent development for over 20 years, guided by our core belief that excellence can be found anywhere.”

While creating hundreds of opportunities for children in underdeveloped countries, Right to Dream has generated tens of millions of euros in transfer fees for clubs within the network.

Mansour, who graduated from N.C. State in 1968 with an engineering degree and then earned a Masters’ from Auburn, differs from many MLS owners because he is a native soccer fan, he had extensive soccer business experience, and even an idea of how he’d like his team to play (possession-based).

Asked which he’d prefer — for Egypt to win the World Cup or San Diego FC to win MLS Cup — Mansour answered the United States (to win the World Cup) and San Diego FC to win MLS Cup.

“I tell you why. I’m a businessman too,” he said, grinning. “And if the US does well in this World Cup, soccer is going to grow.”

Rapid fire with Sir Mohamed Mansour

Comic book hero: Superman

Kryptonite: Worrying

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan

Favorite soccer player: Mohamed Salah

Childhood hero: His father

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San Diego, CA

3 San Diego State players who won’t be on the roster in the 2026–27 season

Published

2 days ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

3 San Diego State players who won’t be on the roster in the 2026–27 season

The San Diego State Aztecs are bracing for some possible serious turnover this offseason and it’s not all going to be via the transfer portal.

Leading scorer Reese Dixon-Waters is out of eligibility, as are Jeremiah Oden and Sean Newman Jr. Newman can petition for another season based on his junior college years, but it’s anyone’s guess if he’d get it.

Obviously, San Diego State’s roster movement is far from complete and the transfer portal doesn’t even open until April 7, the day after the national championship game.

The Aztecs’ once-promising season ended when they were left out of the NCAA Tournament following their loss to Utah State in the Mountain West Tournament championship game.

There are some players we know will not be on the squad next season, which will be the Aztecs’ first in the new-look Pac-12:

Guard Reese Dixon-Waters

San Diego State Aztecs guard Reese Dixon-Waters (39). | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

After missing all of the 2024-25 season with a broken foot, Dixon-Waters returned for his final season of eligibility and led the Aztecs in scoring at 13.1 points per game. He was a second-team All-Mountain West pick. He scored his 1,000th career point at UNLV on Jan. 24 and finished his career with 1,220 points.

Dixon-Waters played his first three seasons at USC before transferring to SDSU, where he started 23 of 37 games in 2023-24. He was a preseason All-Mountain West pick the next season before breaking a foot. He was so highly regarded that, despite missing all of last season, he was named to the preseason All-MW team in October.

One of his notable accomplishments was attempting more free throws (43) without a miss to start the 2023-24 season than any player in the country.

Forward Jeremiah Oden

San Diego State Aztecs forward Jeremiah Oden (25). | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Oden started 15 games and played in 30 of 33 games in his final season of eligibility after transferring from Charlotte, where he redshirted in 2024-25. He averaged 4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes.

Oden scored his 1,000th career point on Feb. 3 against Wyoming, where he played his first three college seasons. He finished his career with 1,024 points and 495 rebounds.

Oden didn’t play at all in a blowout home win against Utah State on Feb. 25, when Dutcher shortened his rotation from 11 to nine players. He had started the previous nine games.

Oden also played one season at DePaul.

Guard Sean Newman Jr.

San Diego State Aztecs guard Sean Newman Jr. (4). | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The transfer from Louisiana Tech played in all 33 games and made four starts, including Senior Night in the regular-season finale against UNLV and all three games in the MW tournament, when freshman Elzie Harrington was out with an injury.

Newman averaged 3.3 points, 2.4 assists and 15.4 minutes.

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