SAN DIEGO, CA – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has voted unanimously on how to spend the final US$102 million in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
In 2021, the County got US$650 million in ARPA funds from the federal government and adopted a framework for spending it. ARPA is a stimulus bill intended to help the county recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic and social repercussions.
The remaining US$102 million in ARPA funds is broken down into two categories: US$67 million in ARPA framework funds and US$35 million dedicated to “perennial” programs.
The Board approved the following breakdown of ARPA framework funds, US$15 million for the regional homeless assistance program to assist people in the unincorporated area; US$10 million for COVID-related costs; US$4.3 million to complete pilot programs such as the Family Income for Empowerment Program, which provides families with children under the age of 18 with US$500 per month for 24 months; US$27. 1 million to continue to implement ARPA programs for homeless assistance, housing, and mental health services; and US$10 million to be set aside in the event that FEMA does not reimburse the County for hotel rooms intended for vulnerable populations during the pandemic.
For the “evergreen” component, which is for programs that have a lasting benefit in our region, including on behavioral health, housing, climate change, economic prosperity, homelessness and workforce.
Due to the above, the Board voted to spend US$15 million for the implementation of Senate Bill 43 (Involuntary Behavioral Health Treatment), including Public Conservator infrastructure, crisis stabilization capacity and overall capacity for substance use disorder treatment services.
In addition, US$10.6 million was authorized to be spent for the Innovative Housing Trust Fund to create more affordable housing; US$10 million to expand San Diego County’s behavioral health workforce, including recruitment, retention and workforce development.
It was also voted to allocate US$10 million for natural disaster prevention and preparedness, pending reimbursement from FEMA for funds spent on relief for victims of the January storm.
In the coming months, staff will present the board with more detailed recommendations on the approved ARPA spending. The County has until December 2026 to fully spend the ARPA money.
