More than 120 new apartments are opening this week for low-income older adults, the first of nearly a dozen affordable housing projects under way using land owned by San Diego County. The Levant Senior Cottages are near Linda Vista Park; the county is leasing out the property for just $1 a year. Monthly rents will range from around $600 to $1,200.
Those living in the other apartments are still expected to pay around 30 percent. Vouchers that help cover rent have been a major tool to keep people at risk of homelessness under a roof, although budget deficits are forcing leaders to make tough choices about what to prioritize. The San Diego City Council is currently weighing whether to re-allocate millions of dollars the Housing Commission had planned on using for projects like Levant.