RTFH earns Ruby Award from San Diego Housing Federation
By Gary Warth
June 10, 2026
Regional Task Force on Homelessness team members who led a project that housed dozens of people and cleared a large homeless encampment in Lemon Grove were recognized with a prestigious Ruby Award by the San Diego Housing Federation on June 4.
“RTFH’s dedication to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring really shines through this recognition,” said Community Engagement Manager Jan Walton.
”Much like a Ruby’s fiery and passionate energy, our leadership and staff bring that same heart to the work of ending homelessness in our county,” she added.
The San Diego Housing Federation, a nonprofit advocacy group for the preservation and creation of affordable housing, presents the Ruby Awards annually in recognition of organizations that have worked toward their mission.
“At a time when housing affordability continues to impact individuals, families, seniors, veterans, young people, and communities across San Diego County, the Ruby Awards offers an opportunity to come together and recognize the extraordinary leadership, innovation, and compassion driving this work forward every day,” read the program for the ceremony, which was held at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay.
RTFH was recognized as “An outstanding supportive housing project, organization, or individual leader in San Diego that has a focus on supportive services to enable people to end their homelessness.”
The nonprofit was the lead applicant for an $8.4 million grant from the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund. Working with the city of Lemon Grove, RTFH used the grant to coordinate a two-year plan that has brought together several organizations to work together to clear encampments and provide services for 170 people, including 102 who will be housed.
“Receiving a Ruby Award for Supportive Housing is an incredible recognition of the power of our community coming together to work alongside Lemon Grove residents living unsheltered and create a space with housing and resources that empower them to thrive,” said Director of Regional Initiatives Merlynn Watanabe.
“This project demonstrated how housing and client-centered partnerships among our state, CoC, county, cities, and communities can quickly and effectively address encampments, and it’s an honor to have these efforts uplifted through this award,” she continued.
“I just want to thank the whole team for the work done on the backend of this grant,” said Daniel Sturman, who was on site in Lemon Grove as manager of RTFH’s Housing and Unsheltered Strategies.
“Without the work of the grants management team, the data team, media team, our leadership team and others, the glamour outreach work couldn’t have gotten done,” he said.
The awards ceremony program said the ERF project was being recognized for its compassionate, person-centered approach to helping individuals transition directly from encampments into permanent housing.
“Led by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness in partnership with organizations including Crisis House, Brilliant Corners, Think Dignity, Family Health Centers of San Diego, and IMPACT Group, the initiative provides rental assistance, intensive case management, landlord engagement, and long-term housing stabilization services for residents experiencing homelessness in Lemon Grove,” the program read.
“The project has already helped more than 70 individuals successfully exit homelessness and move into permanent housing while remaining connected to ongoing support services,” it continued. “The Crisis House housing stabilization team is especially recognized for its empathy, lived experience, and commitment to building trusting relationships with participants throughout the housing transition process. By prioritizing dignity, consistency, and individualized support, the Lemon Grove ERF Project has created a collaborative model that not only provides housing, but also helps residents rebuild stability, confidence, and a sense of belonging within their community.”
