At the Urban League of San Diego County, there is never a shortage of calls for help. For decades, the organization has been a trusted anchor for San Diegans navigating life’s difficult times.
Over time, those calls have become a kind of barometer for the region, measuring rising stress, fear and urgency felt across the community. Even Urban League CEO, Al Abdallah has answered them, hearing firsthand the struggles San Diegans are facing.
“People are hurting,” Urban League CEO, Al Abdallah, said. “It’s very tough. They’re saying to us when they call in, I’m behind on my rent, do you have assistance to help me pay my rent?”
On the other end of the line are parents, seniors, veterans and working families striving for stability in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. Over the last several months, in today’s economically uncertain times, their calls have skyrocketed.
Rising Costs and Shrinking Support
San Diego’s housing crisis isn’t new, but this year, it’s gotten harder in ways many local organizations haven’t seen before.
With – many residents are now just one or two unexpected bills away from falling behind.
“If you don’t have stable housing. How are you going to be able to do anything else in your life?” asked Al. “You have to have those basic needs met.”
At the same time, federal cuts to food, housing and healthcare programs are creating a ripple effect across the region. Nonprofits that families once turned to for emergency help are receiving less funding just as more people are reaching out for support – creating a real gap between what the community needs and what systems can handle. It’s an environment Al calls ‘unsustainable’ for the region.
Piloting a New Solution
In response to the surge in need, Urban League is launching a new Housing Financial Assistance Program – in partnership with San Diego Foundation (SDF) – designed to intervene before a family loses their home.
“We anticipate based upon prior programs of this nature, certainly with our down payment assistance program, the need is great – greater than what this program is going to be able to fulfill. But it’s a start,” Al said. “We already have a number of individuals that have expressed an interest (in the program).”
This effort is supported by $350,000 from the San Diego Unity Fund, a rapid-response fund launched by SDF to help local nonprofits meet urgent needs as federal safety-net programs are reduced. To date, the Unity Fund has raised more than $32 million from individual donors, families, businesses and philanthropic partners – all to keep San Diegans housed, healthy and fed.
The new emergency housing assistance program will provide up to $10,000 in direct payments to landlords or mortgage lenders for households facing eviction or foreclosure.
”No matter who you are, you walk through the door, and we’re going to help you at no cost,” Al said. “That’s what people expect. There’s no catch. We’re going to help you.”
Before this new program even launched, the Urban League saw how transformative timely support could be. One Urban League client – Pastor Smith, a veteran and longtime San Diegan – was days away from losing his home when he reached out for help.
He connected with the team, who helped secure emergency funds and keep him in his apartment. The relief was immediate, and so was gratitude.
“When you do that for someone, you have a friend forever,” said Al. “They will advocate for you.”
For Al, Smith’s story is a reminder of what’s at stake: real people, real homes, real futures. This new program is a simple but powerful approach: get help to people quickly and keep them housed. It offers something some haven’t felt in a long time – relief.
Support Our Neighbors in Need through the San Diego Unity Fund
