San Diego Bridge to Home: $16.5M Funding Opens for Pacific Beach & La Jolla Affordable Housing Developers

How to Access $16.5 Million in Gap Financing for Coastal Affordable Housing

San Diego announced $16.5 million in new funding for affordable housing developers on February 5, 2026, marking the seventh round of the city's Bridge to Home gap financing program. With applications due April 6, 2026 at 5 p.m., this funding opportunity offers Pacific Beach and La Jolla builders a strategic advantage: projects located in high-resource coastal areas receive bonus scoring points. Since Mayor Todd Gloria launched the program in 2021, Bridge to Home has allocated $123 million across 28 projects, resulting in 390 completed affordable homes and 1,667 units in the pipeline. The latest round provides qualified developers with critical gap financing to transform financially marginal projects into construction-ready developments.

For contractors and builders with decades of Pacific Beach and La Jolla construction experience, this represents an opportunity to leverage local expertise into affordable housing development partnerships while addressing the region's critical housing production crisis.

Application Timeline and Process Requirements

Developers face two critical deadlines for Bridge to Home Round Seven: non-pre-qualified applicants must complete RFQ requirements by March 23, 2026 at 5 p.m., followed by the final application submission deadline of April 6, 2026 at 5 p.m. The evaluation process typically takes 60-90 days, with award announcements expected by July 2026. Successful applicants then enter a 12-18 month development phase before construction begins. Required application materials include disclosure statements, financial relationship documentation, workforce diversity reports, three-year project financing history, and detailed pro forma templates showing gap financing needs. Applications undergo two-stage review: technical compliance verification followed by competitive scoring based on project feasibility and community benefits.

Funding Sources and Successful Project Examples

The $16.5 million allocation combines $12 million from former redevelopment agency funds and $4.5 million from State Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds. Former redevelopment funds support new construction, site improvements, and environmental clearance, while PLHA funds additionally cover acquisition, rehabilitation, and hazardous materials removal. Developers must meet one of three eligibility criteria: pre-qualification through the city's Request for Qualification (RFQ) process, completion of RFQ requirements by March 23, 2026, or partnership with a pre-qualified firm as an emerging, minority, women-owned, or small local developer. Since Mayor Todd Gloria launched Bridge to Home in 2021, the program has demonstrated consistent success: 390 affordable homes completed, 18 projects under construction, and 1,667 units in the active pipeline. Economic Development Director Christina Bibler noted the program "has already proven effective in removing barriers to housing for all income levels," with 392 homes anticipated for completion by spring 2026.

Coastal Advantage: High-Resource Area Bonus Points

Applications are evaluated based on project feasibility and community benefits, with bonus points awarded for three strategic factors: on-site childcare facilities, locations in Moderate to Highest Resource Areas as defined by the TCAC/HCD Opportunity Map, and partnerships with emerging developers. Pacific Beach and La Jolla's classification as high-resource areas creates a direct competitive advantage for coastal builders. The TCAC/HCD Opportunity Map identifies areas with access to quality schools, employment centers, and essential services—characteristics abundant in Pacific Beach Elementary's catchment area and La Jolla's village core. Additional bonus points are available for on-site childcare, which aligns naturally with family-oriented coastal neighborhoods. This scoring structure means coastal land acquisition costs can be offset by higher approval probability and larger per-unit subsidies justified in expensive markets. For builders with decades of Pacific Beach and La Jolla construction experience, this represents an opportunity to leverage local expertise into affordable housing development partnerships while addressing the region's critical housing shortage.

The funding opportunity comes at a time when San Diego construction costs continue to surge, making gap financing even more critical for affordable projects in high-cost coastal areas. Previous Bridge to Home projects, such as Rose Creek Village affordable housing development, demonstrate how the program transforms financially marginal projects into construction-ready developments in Pacific Beach.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bridge to Home Funding