HUD No. 20-024

HUD Public Affairs

(202) 708-0685 FOR RELEASE

Wednesday

February 12, 2020

SECRETARY BEN CARSON’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUS TOUR ARRIVES IN SAN DIEGO

Visit is part of the nationwide “Driving Affordable Housing Across America Bus Tour”



SAN DIEGO - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson today visited San Diego, California, as part of his “Driving Affordable Housing Across America” Bus Tour. Secretary Carson met with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer to discuss regulatory barriers to affordable housing and innovative ways the city is working to increase the area’s housing supply.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Secretary Ben Carson outside of Stella Apartment Complex.

Mayor Faulconer and Secretary Carson visited two affordable housing complexes in the city, Bluewater Apartments and The Stella. Both properties are managed by Affirmed Housing, a local developer of affordable housing, and provide a total of 160 apartments for formerly homeless residents, low-income individuals and families and those with special needs. Projects like the Stella and Bluewater complexes in San Diego’s Grantville community have been able to be fast-tracked due to the City’s push to update community plans and streamline project reviews for affordable housing. Following the tour, the Mayor and the Secretary co-hosted a roundtable discussion with community leaders about reducing regulatory barriers to affordable housing in the area.

Mayor Faulconer and Secretary Carson held a “shred the reg” ceremony during which they ‘shredded’ a regulation inhibiting the development of affordable housing.

“San Diego exemplifies the progress that can be made with communication and the realization of common goals across all levels of government,” said Secretary Carson. “As we continue to shred excessive regulatory barriers, like we did here today in San Diego, we will see an increase in affordable housing choices available to residents across the country.”

“The City of San Diego continues to implement the most forward-thinking housing reforms in California as we do our part to address the statewide housing crisis,” Mayor Faulconer said. “Projects like Stella are the culmination of those efforts to lower costs and speed up the construction of more affordable housing. We’re excited to share our progress with Secretary Carson and how we plan to take our efforts to the next level this year.”

The “Driving Affordable Housing Across America Bus Tour” is a part of the work Secretary Carson is undertaking as the Chair of the White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing established in June 2019. The Council’s eight Federal member agencies are engaging with governments at all levels-State, local, and Tribal-and private-sector and non-profit stakeholders on ways to increase our country’s housing supply so more Americans have access to affordable housing.

Secretary Carson’s Bus Tour will run through June 2020. For more information on the Council’s work and tour locations, please visit www.hud.gov/drivingaffordablehousing or follow along via social media using #DrivingAffordableHousing.