Strengthening City Heights Through Community Action
As part of our mission to enhance the growth and improvement of City Heights, we collaborate with local agencies on initiatives that support the needs and well-being of the businesses, property owners, customers, and residents in the community. Our goal through these collaborations is to continue making City Heights a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming place for residents and visitors.
Homeless Outreach Program
The Mid-City Homeless Coalition is a partnership between the City Heights Business Association, City Heights CDC, North Park Main Street, Lucky Duck Foundation and Price Philanthropies. The County of San Diego through Supervisor District 4 and the City of San Diego through Council Districts 3 and 9 also provide funding support. The coalition’s mission is to reduce the negative impacts of homelessness on our community through a neighborhood-based outreach program in North Park and City Heights to connect homeless persons to housing, services, and other supports. PATH San Diego has provided services to our community similar to those proposed for the Coordinated Street Outreach Program. The coalition has contracted with PATH to provide outreach and needed services to our homeless residents since 2018.
City Heights Business Relief Fund
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused financial harm to many small businesses in our community and across the nation, we have joined with the City Heights Community Development Corporation, the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association, International Rescue Committee, and LISC San Diego to launch the City Heights Business Relief Fund. The Relief Fund is intended to help local small businesses, many of which are minority and woman-owned, keep their doors open during these trying times. Throughout 2020, the City Heights Business Relief Fund awarded $323,000 in grants to 57 local businesses.
Community Advocate Program
The Community Advocate Program is committed to developing and supporting a network of volunteer community leaders who have been trained in addressing neighborhood maintenance and security issues. The goal of the program is to increase the number of issue reports and follow up communications to government agencies to ensure that problems are being addressed, as well as increase the overall civic involvement of residents within the community.
City Heights Sign Project
City Heights is one of the only communities in San Diego without a neighborhood sign. In 2019, an opportunity for a sign was presented through the city’s upcoming sidewalk expansion and round-about construction project. The CHBA worked swiftly to present signage plans to the city and has been approved to install a City Heights neighborhood sign at the intersection of Highland Avenue and University Avenue once the city’s construction project is complete in 2023. The CHBA is excited to fund such an important project for the community and highlight City Heights as a destination in San Diego.
Jobs Pilot Program
The Jobs Pilot Program was recently developed in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Funded by a grant from Price Philanthropies, this program seeks to hire City Heights residents that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic for local, part-time jobs. Through this program, the CHBA has already hired eight part-time maintenance staff members to support the work of the Clean & Safe Program. Feedback from employees has confirmed that these jobs are helping residents cover expenses such as rent, groceries, utility bills, and school costs. The program is currently set to run for 6 months, with the possibility of renewal.
