03/22/2024 12:36 PM PDT

Next Steps for County Emergency Temporary Lodging Program

On March 12, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to extend the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program.

The program, which was launched on Feb. 10, has provided emergency temporary lodging to nearly 900 families who were displaced by flooding from the Jan. 22 storm.

County Emergency Temporary Lodging Program participants will have their eligibility reviewed on a routine basis. Depending on their eligibility and other factors, households in the program may be extended up to May 11. Program participants will be contacted before April 15 to determine their long-term housing plan.

The County, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are working together to help families displaced by the flooding. 

Some residents may be eligible for FEMA Rental Assistance, which may provide residents with financial assistance to pay for up to 18 months of rent.

Families who receive funds through FEMA Rental Assistance can only use those funds on rent, deposits for rent, and/or to pay for utilities for newly rented properties. Any other use of FEMA Rental Assistance funds may make them ineligible for future FEMA Rental Assistance.

The County requires all eligible residents in the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program to apply for FEMA assistance.

FEMA has opened two Disaster Recovery Centers to help residents impacted by the storm apply for federal assistance in person. The centers also offer information from the SBA, state agencies and the County of San Diego. 

The County is partnering with Uber Eats to help provide food for residents in the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program. 

Eligible residents in the program will be provided with a digital voucher to purchase food through Uber Eats for themselves and their families.

Each eligible household will receive a voucher via email and/or text.

The digital voucher’s amount will be determined by several factors:

  • The number of people in the household. 
  • If their hotel is providing breakfast to program participants. 
  • If the participants are receiving food from other organizations.

The voucher will be valid for seven days and cannot be used to buy alcohol or tobacco products. 

Visit AlertSanDiego.org/recovery for more information on available resources to residents and businesses impacted by the Jan. 22 storm and flooding.  

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