VISTA — The Vista City Council approved a contract on Tuesday with Urban Street Angels to operate the city’s first transition-age youth transitional housing program out of a property on Ascot Drive, with client intake set to begin in July.
For several years, the city has pursued a facility and programming for transition-age youth, or TAY. These programs focus on preventing homelessness and providing resources for vulnerable young adults, including those exiting the foster care system.
In October, the city purchased a 12-bedroom residential care property at 727 Ascot Drive for $2.1 million, with $100,000 set aside for maintenance and rehabilitation. The property had previously been used as a facility for patients with Alzheimer’s.
Urban Street Angels, which has operated in the San Diego area since 2012, was the sole respondent to the city’s request for proposals for an operator for the facility. The nonprofit has developed various programs to prevent youth homelessness, including three independent living homes in downtown San Diego and La Mesa.
Founder and CEO Eric Lovett-Maerz said the organization has had a great success rate and is eager to serve even more youth with a North County location. The nonprofit has served around 7,000 individuals over the years, and helped over 200 youth transition out of homelessness and into job programs in 2023.
“We really feel that we would be an amazing partner for Vista. We’d love to come in, and let’s get youth off the streets, and let’s see more youth become successful in their life, and they’ll never have to return to the street again,” Lovett-Maerz said at the City Council’s Tuesday meeting.
The facility will serve individuals between the ages of 18 to 25 facing barriers to secure housing, including former foster children and those with mental health diagnoses, substance use disorders, and former involvement with the justice system.
Urban Street Angels proposed a mix of semi-congregate and non-congregate rooms and a 1:17 case manager-to-client ratio. They will also provide access to physical, mental and dental health care services, connections to over 20 trade schools, scholarship funds to cover tuition and supplies, and dedicated life skills specialists for future employment.
The city approved a three-year contract with Urban Street Angels, with the nonprofit planning to cover the costs of operation themselves and pay rent to the city. The first year of expenses is covered by private donations and San Diego County public funds, with future funding sources still being developed.
The nonprofit also partners with several organizations to support its programming, including San Diego County Behavioral Health Services, the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, the San Diego Housing Commission, the Lucky Duck Foundation, and the Youth Assistance Coalition.
“We have such a great network here in North County of partnerships, and I just see this growing into being such a wonderful, well-established program,” said Councilmember Katie Melendez. “Your expertise, the quality of your programs really shines through, and I’m very pleased to be able to vote yes on this tonight.”
Urban Street Angels will operate under a progressive lease schedule with the city. No rent payments are required in the first year. The nonprofit will pay $77,250 in rent in the second year and $79,568 in the third year.
Total costs for the first year are around $709,000, followed by $833,000 and $877,000 in the second and third years, respectively.
Lovett-Maerz said he started Urban Street Angels after experiencing hardship in his own life, stating that he was kicked out of his home because he was gay. After moving to San Diego in 2012, he started the first transitional housing program out of his house.
“It started because I never wanted young people to experience any rejection for whatever it is that they face or whatever they go through,” he said.
Councilmember Corinna Contreras noted the prevalence of homelessness among LGBTQIA+ youth, with statistics showing that as much as 40% of homeless youth identify as part of the community.
“I’m just so thankful that we have the opportunity to have you here in Vista,” Contreras said.
Zee King, a formerly homeless transition-age youth who is now 29, said she had to uproot herself from her community in North County to find transition-age youth services in San Diego. She said services from organizations like Urban Street Angels have been invaluable, and she now gives back to others by working at North County Lifeline.
“I’m here, I did it, but something like this is crucial so that we’re not continuing the cycle of chronic homelessness as an adult,” King said. “What they’re trying to do is really collaborate and bring it together so that we can get all the support that we need in one spot rather than creating more barriers for ourselves in the process.”
