California Apartment Association

By Jonathan Heller
For CAA News

SAN DIEGO – The California Apartment Association’s San Diego Division has joined forces with the Downtown San Diego Partnership to reduce homelessness in the coastal city’s core.

CAA presented a check for $15,000 Thursday night to Partnership President and CEO Kris Michell in support of the Partnership’s “Make Change Count” and “Work Your Way Home” initiatives, which seek to end homelessness downtown.

Whitney Benzian, executive director of CAA’s San Diego Division, said his organization is proud to raise money for such a worthy cause, especially with such a track record for delivering results.

“Homelessness is a serious issue in San Diego, and in downtown specifically,” Benzian said. “At any given time, there more than 550 homeless people living on the streets of downtown and thousands more homeless throughout the region.

“CAA has made it a priority to help address this problem by partnering with the Downtown San Diego Partnership to direct more than $15,000 to the Partnership’s programs focused on alleviating homelessness.”

The Downtown San Diego Partnership is a nonprofit, member-based organization representing downtown residents and businesses through 10,000 parcels in downtown.

CAA hosted Thursday’s fundraiser downtown at Vantage Pointe, an Equity Residential property. More than 200 people attended, including Mayor Kevin Faulconer, City Council President Todd Gloria and Councilman Scott Sherman.

Michell said her organization is grateful for the support of CAA and its members.

The Partnership’s “Work Your Way Home” program reunites homeless individuals with family in cities back home.

Reconnecting families

The $15,000 raised by CAA is enough to help reconnect up to 150 homeless people with their loved ones in distant cities, Michell said. The program has already helped more than 200 homeless people.

“These funds go directly into programs that can have a profound and positive impact on so many lives, as well as on the downtown community,” Michell said. “It’s clear the California Apartment Association understands the importance of having a roof over your head, and their willingness to raise funds for our homeless initiatives shows they want to make change count.”

Mayor Faulconer applauded the efforts of CAA and the Partnership.

“No woman, child, man or veteran in San Diego should have to go without shelter or food,” Faulconer said. “As mayor, I will continue to partner with good organizations like the California Apartment Association and help fund good programs such as the Partnership’s ‘Work Your Way Home’ to help provide services for San Diegans that need it most.”

CAA work with Partnership ‘incredible’

The Partnership also helps homeless people secure housing by providing move-in costs such as security deposits and household basics. Further, the “Make Change Count” program installs signature red “Donation Stations” around downtown. When the public feeds change into these retrofitted parking meters, they are helping to reduce panhandling while providing a more effective way to help the homeless.

Gloria, the council president, praised CAA and the Partnership for doing important work.

“We can not call ourselves America’s Finest City if we have (thousands of people) unsheltered,” said Gloria, whose district includes downtown. “I know your tenants and your customers grapple with this issue every day. What CAA is doing with the Downtown Partnership is incredible.”