As part of the County’s ongoing commitment to affordable housing, the Board of Supervisors voted to move $2 million in available funding from the Capital Emergency Solutions Grant Program to the Innovative Housing Trust Fund (IHTF) and Landlord Incentive Program.
The $2 million became available when a previously approved project ran into development barriers and was abandoned. That freed up $2 million for re-allocation to the Innovative Housing Trust Fund for previously approved developments and to support the Landlord Incentive Program.
The Innovative Housing Trust Fund was established by the Board of Supervisors in October 2017. Over the subsequent years, $112 million has been invested in new construction to address the region’s affordable housing shortage. The fund has played a key role in expanding low-income housing for seniors, veterans, families and people experiencing homelessness. The Landlord Incentive Program supports families and veterans experiencing homelessness by providing financial incentives to landlords who rent to veterans.
“Every dollar makes a difference toward our continued efforts to increase affordable housing for our most vulnerable populations,” said David Estrella, Director, County Housing and Development Services. “The $1.6 million for the IHTF will help push some developments now in the planning stage into construction and on the road to completion.”
Since 2017, IHTF funding has supported 36 affordable housing projects that upon completion will add 3,054 units spread across 23 communities. As of June 2025, 21 developments are complete, eight are under construction and seven are in planning.
The federal government defines “affordable” as housing that costs no more than 30 percent of a household’s monthly income. That means the combined rent and utilities in an apartment, or the mortgage payment and housing expenses for a homeowner, should be less than 30 percent of a household’s total monthly income.
The income limit for an affordable housing program is the maximum amount of gross income a household can earn based on a city or county’s Area Median Income. For San Diego County, the 2025 Area Median Income is $130,800.
Find the affordable housing map and more information about area median income (AMI) and County Housing and Development Services.
In May, the Board of Supervisors received an update on the County’s Housing Blueprint.
