Lisa Halverstadt
@lisahalverstadt.bsky.social
@voiceofsandiego.org senior investigative reporter digging into San Diego County government & our homelessness, housing & behavioral health crises. 📧[email protected]
Pinned
When homelessness rises, so do the stakes of getting the story right - Poynter
This new guide helps journalists navigate the ethical and human challenges of reporting on homelessness
www.poynter.org
🧵Career highlight I hope will have many positive ripples: @poynterinstitute.bsky.social just published a guide to homelesness reporting that I've spent months creating with an impressive group of journalists across the country with years of experience on the beat.
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
California Atty. Gen. sues Trump Administration to stop homeless housing cuts
California Atty. Gen. sues Trump Administration to stop homeless housing cuts
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta on Tuesday sued the Trump Administration, seeking to stop a reduction in federal support for permanent housing.
www.latimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
California Atty. Gen. sues Trump Administration to stop homeless housing cuts
Could homebuilding be picking back up in San Diego County? More than a year after the homebuilding lobby declared the unincorporated county "dead" to developers, some county officials claim things are shifting.
County Officials: A Building Exemption Is Giving San Diego a Housing Boost
Some county officials say allowing projects that comply with the county’s general plan to avoid the vehicle miles traveled policy has been a game changer.
voiceofsandiego.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Could homebuilding be picking back up in San Diego County? More than a year after the homebuilding lobby declared the unincorporated county "dead" to developers, some county officials claim things are shifting.
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
"Jason’s passing shows that even a person who has strong support, a loving family, a master’s degree, deep experience as a behavioral health and poverty specialist, and a sharp head on his shoulders can stumble. We all can."
For decades, this drug and health counselor brought hope to desperate homeless people in San Francisco. But in the end, he fell prey to the very poison he fought to save so many from.
He spent his life trying to save those on S.F. streets from drugs and poverty. Then he overdosed
For decades, this drug and health counselor brought hope to desperate homeless people in San Francisco. But in the end, he fell prey to the very poison he fought to save so many from.
bit.ly
November 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
"Jason’s passing shows that even a person who has strong support, a loving family, a master’s degree, deep experience as a behavioral health and poverty specialist, and a sharp head on his shoulders can stumble. We all can."
🍨Friday scoop: A coalition that includes labor groups, advocates and philanthropists will try to get a countywide half-cent sales tax hike on the ballot in November 2026.
County Coalition Pressing Ahead on Sales-Tax Pitch
A coalition of labor and advocacy groups announced Friday they will try to get a proposed countywide half-cent sales tax hike on the November 2026 ballot.
voiceofsandiego.org
November 22, 2025 at 1:11 AM
🍨Friday scoop: A coalition that includes labor groups, advocates and philanthropists will try to get a countywide half-cent sales tax hike on the ballot in November 2026.
Developers eyeing projects in unincorporated San Diego County have in recent years decried a vehicle miles traveled policy they claim halted homebuilding so a chart county staff shared yesterday documenting homebuilding trends got some eyes popping. 👀
County Official: One Policy Not Clearly to Blame for Homebuilding Drop
County supervisors on Wednesday got a briefing from county planning officials on a slew of land use policies, including a notorious one meant to reduce driving and greenhouse gas emissions.
voiceofsandiego.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Developers eyeing projects in unincorporated San Diego County have in recent years decried a vehicle miles traveled policy they claim halted homebuilding so a chart county staff shared yesterday documenting homebuilding trends got some eyes popping. 👀
Via @sandiegouniontribune.com: "San Diego County will see about $13 million freed up in its next annual budget under a new partnership that supervisors approved Tuesday with the San Diego Foundation."
‘We have to be creative’: Supervisors OK partnership with philanthropists to free up $13M in county budget
The San Diego Foundation has stepped in to pay county contractors in exchange for taxpayer support for its new community grant program.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Via @sandiegouniontribune.com: "San Diego County will see about $13 million freed up in its next annual budget under a new partnership that supervisors approved Tuesday with the San Diego Foundation."
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Happening TOMORROW: Join us at Soda Bar for a live recording of the VOSD podcast!
Get your tickets now:
voiceofsandiego.org/event/brews-...
Get your tickets now:
voiceofsandiego.org/event/brews-...
Brews & News Live Podcast
Voice of San Diego Presents Brews & News Live Podcast 🍻 We’re back! Bring a friend, have a pint and embrace your inner news nerd with Voice of San Diego. […]
voiceofsandiego.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Happening TOMORROW: Join us at Soda Bar for a live recording of the VOSD podcast!
Get your tickets now:
voiceofsandiego.org/event/brews-...
Get your tickets now:
voiceofsandiego.org/event/brews-...
A little✨good news ✨on the San Diego homelessness data front: For the first time since June, the number of people becoming homeless in San Diego County was eclipsed by the number of people exiting homelessness.
November 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
A little✨good news ✨on the San Diego homelessness data front: For the first time since June, the number of people becoming homeless in San Diego County was eclipsed by the number of people exiting homelessness.
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Via @sandiegouniontribune.com: "Requests for shelter have risen significantly in (San Diego) since local officials got permission to clear encampments on state land. Yet a lack of spots in the region’s overwhelmed shelter system means almost all of those pleas — about 93% — recently failed."
Shelter requests surged after San Diego began clearing freeway camps. Almost all failed.
A lack of spots means only 7% of pleas for a bed recently succeeded. ‘I can’t get in.’
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Via @sandiegouniontribune.com: "Requests for shelter have risen significantly in (San Diego) since local officials got permission to clear encampments on state land. Yet a lack of spots in the region’s overwhelmed shelter system means almost all of those pleas — about 93% — recently failed."
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits
Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits
The move is part of USDA chief Brooke Rollins’ effort to overhaul the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and get rid of “fraud.”
dlvr.it
November 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
"Project grants will have already expired before the award cycle closes and additional funding is granted. This means that some permanent housing will be left with no funding and tenants could be displaced during the coldest months of the year, said a HUD employee granted anonymity..."
More than half of the 2026 funding for a HUD permanent housing program will be shifted to transitional housing with work and service requirements.
Trump administration to issue policy change making deep cuts to homeless housing program
More than half of the 2026 funding for the program will be shifted from permanent housing to transitional housing with work and service requirements.
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:27 AM
"Project grants will have already expired before the award cycle closes and additional funding is granted. This means that some permanent housing will be left with no funding and tenants could be displaced during the coldest months of the year, said a HUD employee granted anonymity..."
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
What We're Reading 💡 Some great ideas emerged from @voiceofsandiego.org's Politifest, including practical ways to improve how #SanDiego City & County connect with people experiencing both homelessness and mental health challenges 👉
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/09/6...
@lisahalverstadt.bsky.social
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/09/6...
@lisahalverstadt.bsky.social
6 Things San Diego Could Do to Aid Homeless People with Behavioral Health Challenges
Politifest speakers agreed that San Diego County government should take the lead on delivering solutions to aid homeless residents grappling with addiction and mental health conditions.
voiceofsandiego.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
What We're Reading 💡 Some great ideas emerged from @voiceofsandiego.org's Politifest, including practical ways to improve how #SanDiego City & County connect with people experiencing both homelessness and mental health challenges 👉
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/09/6...
@lisahalverstadt.bsky.social
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/09/6...
@lisahalverstadt.bsky.social
Via @nytimes.com: The Trump administration is preparing to push major homelessness policy changes that would "slash support for long-term housing programs." Critics fear up to 170,000 formerly homeless people could be forced back onto the street.
Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Via @nytimes.com: The Trump administration is preparing to push major homelessness policy changes that would "slash support for long-term housing programs." Critics fear up to 170,000 formerly homeless people could be forced back onto the street.
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Millions of low-income Americans should receive full food aid benefits within a day of Trump signing Congress’ shutdown-ending deal into law, according to the admin.
Trump admin will pay full SNAP benefits ‘within 24 hours’ after shutdown ends
The House is expected to pass a funding package and send it to the president’s desk Wednesday night.
www.politico.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Millions of low-income Americans should receive full food aid benefits within a day of Trump signing Congress’ shutdown-ending deal into law, according to the admin.
Via @sandiegouniontribune.com: "The San Diego Foundation, one of the city’s most deep-pocketed philanthropic groups, could start paying some of San Diego County’s bills under a new plan from Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer."
Private money to pay public bills? To fund social safety net, supervisor floats plan for help from top philanthropists
A proposed deal could see the San Diego Foundation cover $18 million of county social services contracts — and the county steer nearly $5 million to the philanthropic organization.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Via @sandiegouniontribune.com: "The San Diego Foundation, one of the city’s most deep-pocketed philanthropic groups, could start paying some of San Diego County’s bills under a new plan from Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer."
🧵It’s Wednesday and today’s @voiceofsandiego.org news blast leads with my story on the new costs that state criminal justice reform measure Proposition 36 has created for San Diego County government.
Morning Report: Proposition 36 Proving Costly for County
County officials last year projected at least a $58 million annual budget hit if statewide criminal justice reform measure Proposition 36 passed. Now that the initiative that cracked down on […]
voiceofsandiego.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
🧵It’s Wednesday and today’s @voiceofsandiego.org news blast leads with my story on the new costs that state criminal justice reform measure Proposition 36 has created for San Diego County government.
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
JUST IN: Supreme Court keeps pause on SNAP food benefits as shutdown in talks to come to an end
Supreme Court keeps pause on SNAP food benefits as shutdown comes to end
The Trump administration argued the courts should stay out of the SNAP food stamps funding fight and let Congress end the government shutdown.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 PM
JUST IN: Supreme Court keeps pause on SNAP food benefits as shutdown in talks to come to an end
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Judge blocks USDA threat to reclaim full SNAP funding from states that handed out November food stamps.
Federal judge says states don't have to claw back November SNAP benefits
Judge blocks USDA threat to reclaim full SNAP funding from states that handed out November food stamps.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Judge blocks USDA threat to reclaim full SNAP funding from states that handed out November food stamps.
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Update: The Trump administration says it will return to the Supreme Court to continue fighting an order to fund food stamps in full. But it said the request may be moot, in the end, if Congress funds SNAP. So there is some light at the end of the tunnel, maybe.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
November 10, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Update: The Trump administration says it will return to the Supreme Court to continue fighting an order to fund food stamps in full. But it said the request may be moot, in the end, if Congress funds SNAP. So there is some light at the end of the tunnel, maybe.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Via @nytimes.com: "The Trump administration told states that they must “immediately undo” any actions to provide full food stamp benefits to low-income families, in a move that added to the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the nation’s largest anti-hunger program during the government shutdown."
Trump Administration Demands States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Via @nytimes.com: "The Trump administration told states that they must “immediately undo” any actions to provide full food stamp benefits to low-income families, in a move that added to the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the nation’s largest anti-hunger program during the government shutdown."