Housing First is a program developed by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness that requires that homeless individuals receive stable and permanent housing before they can benefit from other services.

In San Diego, the Housing Commission launched its program in 2014. Since that time the Housing Commission has created nearly 8,500 permanent housing opportunities and approved 761 new housing units. 

The Embarcadero Institute released a report in September titled, "Double Counting in the Latest Housing Needs Assessment."

The acronyms stand for “Yes in my backyard” and “Not in my backyard.”

In an August 2020 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, data shows that people of color were more likely to be impacted by the coronavirus. In fact, cases increased among the Black or African American and non-Hispanic community by 2.6. The same group were also 4.7 times more likely to be hospitalized. 

As the nation gets closer to the November general election, the specter of misinformation and voter suppression grows more ominous. Facebook has become the tool of choice for Russia, Iran, China and homegrown election tampering. If Zuckerberg can't get control of the platform, it may have to be eliminated as a threat to democracy.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared on The Fulcrum, and has been republished on IVN with permission from the publisher.

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Ohio will provide updates starting election night on the number of absentee ballots that haven't arrived to be counted. It's an apparent first, especially in a battleground state, that good-government experts are hailing as a smart way to help the public through the unique rhythm of this election.

This is an independent opinion. Want to respond? Write your own commentary! Email hoa@ivn.us.

In San Diego, our homeless students are facing great challenges. In addition to finding a safe and secure place to live, they are navigating through a deadly pandemic and protests for social justice. 

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" is aired weekly on Mightier 1090 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. In this episode, Marston talks to former California lawmaker Steve Peace about SDSU West, IVN San Diego columnist Ron Donoho about San Diego homeless choir, Voices of Our City, and more.

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With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, campaigns across the country are ramping up their activities the best they can in the final eight weeks of a pandemic-affected election. This includes several campaigns that look to expand the historic momentum behind nonpartisan election reform.

This is an independent opinion. Have one of your own? Write it! Email it to hoa@ivn.us.

I remember Rob's, my husband, first fire. We were married four years at the time and his first fire, the Poinsettia Fire, turned out to be a learning experience for both of us.

Thanks to our region’s balmy climate, San Diego’s restaurants are weathering the COVID-19 economic downturn by moving their diners outdoors. Cheered on by Mayor Kevin Faulconer and members of the San Diego City Council, restaurants have transformed busy sidewalks and streets into convivial, social-distancing-compliant outdoor dining spaces where San Diego residents and visitors are welcome to gather for meals, company and conversation.