LGBTQ Center receives $1M from state

By Gary Warth

Oct. 13, 2026

The North County LGBTQ Resource Center, which has housing and homelessness-prevention programs, has received $1 million from the state to help pay down its mortgage.

State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, secured the funding and presented a check to the Oceanside-based center on Oct. 13.

Blakespear said she had toured the center and was impressed with the work its staff are doing for people in the community.

“I really appreciate that ambition,” Blakespear said. “I appreciate the vision. I appreciate the heart and commitment and the reality that people need services. They need help. They need to have an embracing community.”

Center Executive Director Max Disposti said the $1 million will reduce the mortgage to $3.5 million and help stabilize the facility by saving about $7,000 a month.

With the mortgage that much closer to being paid off, Disposti said, the center will be able to expand its services in the future.

The money comes at a time when financing is more challenging because of fewer government grants, he added.

“We provide homelessness prevention, which means we pay rent and utilities and support working-class people before they lose their homes,” Disposti said. “Last year alone, we gave out $160,000 in rental assistance and utility assistance and helped repair the cars they use to get to work.”

Emergency services provided by the center include housing navigation support, security and utility deposit assistance, move-in assistance, and eviction-prevention referrals.

The center also has behavioral health programs and services for domestic violence survivors and young adults, including a village of 10 cottages to house transitional-age youth.