San Diego, CA–The San Diego Foundation announced today that it has awarded $315,000 in grants to 11 nonprofit organizations leading local efforts to support and improve the quality of life for older San Diegans.
“With our partners, the Age-Friendly Communities initiative envisions a region where people of all ages are engaged, valued and afforded equitable opportunities,” said Katie Rast, Director of Community Impact at The San Diego Foundation. “Recognizing that in 2020 nearly a quarter of all San Diegans experiencing homelessness were over the age of 55, the most recent round of grantmaking reflects a regional strategy that includes housing, along with health and transportation to support equity in aging.”
According to California’s Master Plan for Aging, aging adults throughout the state face economic precarities associated with high housing, health care, and support costs. With nearly one-third of older Californians experiencing economic insecurity and struggling to afford basic needs, expanding access to services that support older adults is a critical need throughout the region.
Eligible organizations received a maximum of $30,000 per proposal. The $315,000 in funds will support 11 initiatives led by organizations who, in partnership with The San Diego Foundation, have demonstrated alignment with existing Age-Friendly municipal action plans.
The 2021 Grantees:
● Alpha Project for the Homeless – $30,000 to provide housing and wraparound services including emergency rental assistance, furniture, transportation, mobility devices, and in-home care to low-income seniors.
● Coastal Roots Farm – $25,000 for the Equitable Food Access and Social Inclusion Program to bring no-cost nutritious and healthy meals to older San Diegans.
● Interfaith Community Services – $30,000to provide safe and secure housing to seniors who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
● Community Housing Works – $30,000 to support a pilot program to bring workforce development and training services to older San Diegans to help them secure part-time employment, achieve financial independence and decrease isolation.
● Full Access and Coordinated Transportation Inc. (FACT) – $30,000 to provide transportation options for Central and South County older adults.
● Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center – $30,000 to hire a patient coordinator to develop and implement patient outreach strategies and bring quality dental care to older San Diegans.
● La Maestra Family Clinic Inc. – $30,000 to increase staff capacity to provide quality geriatric patient care to seniors in need.
● PATH San Diego – $30,000 for a Community Care program to provide interim and permanent housing, case management and other health services to older San Diegans experiencing homelessness.
● Pacific Educational Facility/Ramona Senior Center – $20,000 to deliver no-cost, nutritious meals to seniors who reside in North County, including those on American Indian reservations.
● San Diego Housing Federation – $30,000 to bolster municipal advocacy efforts in preventing homelessness by implementing affordable housing policies for seniors.
● Serving Seniors – $30,000 for a Homelessness Prevention Pilot Program to provide limited monthly financial support and case management assistance to low-income seniors who are on the brink of homelessness.
