Chula Vista mayor touts homeless solution in State of the City

By Gary Warth

April 28

Providing shelter for people living outdoors, preventing homelessness and creating affordable housing remain priorities in Chula Vista, Mayor John McCann said in his State of the City address April 28.

“Addressing housing availability and homelessness remains one of the most important responsibilities,” McCann said in the address at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.

McCann referred to himself as a champion of affordable-home ownership and noted that he led two major entry-level housing projects in Chula Vista that will create more than 1,000 homes.

The mayor also said the city has a comprehensive strategy focused on preventing homelessness through a new pilot program that provides rental assistance to seniors and veterans.

Outreach teams have connected people to the pallet homes bridge shelter Chula Vista Village at Otay, McCann said, and more than 100 people have received support this year and many have moved into permanent housing.

The mayor also said the city had secured $8.61 million in state Homekey+ funding that will create 27 permanent supportive housing units for extremely low-income residents.

The Palomar Point development will include 20 project-based vouchers and seven Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers provided by the County of San Diego. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with full occupancy anticipated early next year.

In other projects scheduled to open this year, McCann said the Millenia Library is expected to open in the fall. The 5-story, 168,000-square-foot facility on Millenia Avenue will include a public library, San Diego State University nursing programs and the Chula Vista Entertainment Complex.

The mayor also said Chula Vista is in strong financial shape, with a balanced budget and strong reserves, and has been able to provide quality services while other cities in the state have had layoffs and raised parking fees.

Chula Vista was ranked the safest city in the county and is among the top 10 safest cities in the country for cities with more than 200,000 residents, McCann said while stressing the importance of public safety.