Food distribution at the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. (File photo from a food bank video)
Three of San Diego’s leading foundations are expected to announce Thursday $70 million in funding to ensure local families have access to food, housing and healthcare amid “unprecedented cuts to critical programs and services.”
The “United for San Diego” plan is a joint effort by the Prebys Foundation, Price Philanthropies and the San Diego Foundation that was described as “one of the largest collaborative philanthropic efforts in San Diego history.”
The foundations said in a news advisory that the loss of key federal government funding is “the most significant community challenge since COVID-19” and called for other philanthropic organizations to contribute to the new San Diego Unity Fund.
The H.R. 1 legislation — President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” — passed earlier this year reduces federal funding for Medicaid health coverage, SNAP food assistance and Section 8 housing assistance, among other government programs.
The foundations warned of the following impacts:
- San Diego County is bracing for the loss of at least $300 million a year in federal government funding.
- One in eight San Diegans could face economic hardship because of cuts to critical programs and services.
- More than 400,000 San Diegans risk losing access to healthcare. About 100,000 San Diegans could lose food assistance.
The three foundations said they are coordinating their efforts to make the largest impact and “safeguard access to food, housing and healthcare.”
A press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday to provide further information about the plan.
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