Cortez Hill Family Center

The Cortez Hill Family Center for homeless families is a program of the City of San Diego, administered by the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) and operated by Alpha Project for the Homeless.  The program provides 156 beds in 47 units for families with children experiencing homelessness. Annually, the program provides roughly 150 families and 500 family members with safe housing and supportive services needed to prepare for longer term or permanent housing, as well as successfully promoting self-sufficiency, wellness, and recovery.

Alpha Project prepares families at Cortez Hill for the most appropriate longer term/permanent housing interventions, contributing to the regional goals of ensuring instances of homelessness are rare, brief, and non-recurring. As an expert in best practices related to Housing First, harm reduction, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and shelter diversion strategies, Alpha Project utilizes these techniques and methods in its approach to the Program. Low barrier and client choice in nature, services offered include case management, counselling, children activities, AA/NA, Life Skills workshops, access to healthcare, and other critical wraparound services.

Prior to entry, all families complete an intake, screening, and assessment using the Coordinated Entry System (CES), the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and the communitys chosen assessment tool, the Vulnerability Index Family Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-F-SPDAT). Length of stay is classified as interim, with a goal of 90 days or less. For more information, call 619-542-1877.

Access applications on the website listed above.