To understand our agency’s work in affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization, it is important to know about the community and its people. San Ysidro (established in 1908) is located at the U.S. – Mexico border between Tijuana and downtown San Diego, three miles east of the Pacific Ocean. It is known as the busiest border crossing the world. In 1956, the City of San Diego annexed the area, and it still remains geographically and culturally isolated, being some twenty miles to the south of urban San Diego and separated from it by two other incorporated cities.

San Ysidro’s population is 32,789 (1998), and is overwhelming minority – Hispanics, Black, and Asian/Other account for 91% of the total. It is a “young” community --the median age is 27.6 years. The median household income is $22,760. Families tend to be larger than average, with 4.07 persons per household. Two-thirds of the housing stock is multi-family, and 35% of the City of San Diego’s subsidized housing is located here, with more than 8,000 families on the waiting list. Of the 4,411 students in the San Ysidro School District, 82% are determined as low socio-economic status (compared to 45% in the County, and 29% nationally). One hundred percent of the school district’s students qualify for free or reduced-cost meals.

Casa Familiar is an agency with more than a quarter-century successful track record in service to the San Ysidro community, and most of our employees are local residents. We became involved with community development in the mid 1980’s and were a part of a successful planning & policy restructuring for San Ysidro through an AIA/Regional Urban Assistance Team(RUDAT). We understand the community needs in a wide variety of areas and our work through affordable housing, community and economic development looks to address those challenges with innovative solutions. For us, affordable housing is both a long-term strategic planning goal, as well as a shorter-term goal of providing housing units that can be afforded by persons of very low, low, and even moderate-income levels.

We are active participants in developments that affect San Ysidro; from the local community planning group and projects to representation of various national initiatives and border development.

Our President & CEO served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of San Diego for eight years. Casa was also a recipient of a Frederick P. Rose Architecture Fellowship one of five fellowships given annually at the national level. Local architects and others have volunteered to share their time and expertise to assist us in the implementation of our affordable housing and community revitalization programs. Also, there are many leaders of exemplary stature with a history of community service and participation with our agency. We have political and organizational support throughout the system for our endeavors, and we have access to those important avenues and contacts. Our community, Board of Directors and staff enthusiastically support and advance our program.