The city of Chula Vista recently created the Department of Homelessness and Housing Services to address the housing needs of the city’s residents and to advance solutions for unhoused residents.
The Department of Housing and Homeless Services has 10 staff members and priorities such as the homeless outreach program, Chula Vista BridgeShelter, Harborside Park outreach, affordable housing development, and first-time home buyer and rental assistance programs.
Stacy Kurts will head the department as the Director of Housing and Homeless Services, bringing 23 years of experience in planning, housing, and community engagement. According to the city, she is experienced in addressing critical community needs and implementing solutions through collaboration with the city and community leaders.
Angelica Davis will be the city’s first Homelessness Solutions Manager who will continue to provide support to the city’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) efforts and ongoing project management for homeless projects and programs.
“The creation of this department will provide additional focus and dedicated resources to meet the needs of our unsheltered community,” said City Manager Maria V. Kachadoorian. “We look forward to opening the first bridge shelter in South County and to working with our partners to provide services to support and house as many people as possible.”
Chula Vista will open the first bridge shelter in South Bay next year, planned to provide 66 individual units for unsheltered individuals. Construction is underway on the city-owned property at 27th and Faivre Streets.
The Department of Housing and Homeless Services said it will enact new laws for no-fault evictions once the Tenant Protection Ordinance goes into effect on March 1. In the upcoming year, there will be more than 400 units of affordable housing will also hit the market, including two projects in Otay Ranch — Encelia in Village 8 West and Columba in Millenia
For additional information and updates from the City’s Department of Housing and Homeless Services, visit https://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/development-services/housing
