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.
🍦 Friday scoop: San Diego County officials want to dip into reserves to retroactively cover millions of dollars in bonuses to county employees.
County Could Tap Reserves to Retroactively Cover Bonuses
County officials are proposing to dip into rainy-day funds to pay for millions of dollars in bonuses for county employees. In October, the county paid $18.1 million in bonuses to […]
voiceofsandiego.org
December 5, 2025 at 11:25 PM
🍦 Friday scoop: San Diego County officials want to dip into reserves to retroactively cover millions of dollars in bonuses to county employees.
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Evan Carver’s story has inspired those around him, offering a glimmer of hope amid San Francisco's relentless fentanyl crisis, which continues to claim hundreds of lives each year.
He was lost to drugs for a decade. Here's how he escaped the grip of fentanyl
Evan’s story has inspired those around him, offering a glimmer of hope amid S.F.'s relentless fentanyl crisis, which continues to claim hundreds of lives a year.
www.sfchronicle.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Evan Carver’s story has inspired those around him, offering a glimmer of hope amid San Francisco's relentless fentanyl crisis, which continues to claim hundreds of lives each year.
@bellamayaross.bsky.social: "The primary reason for our dearth of public seating is often unspoken, but obvious: This infrastructure is disproportionally used by poor and unhoused people, for whom a lack of access to private spaces translates into a higher dependence on public amenities."
San Diego Doesn’t Want You to Take a Seat
The lack of benches is a small piece of the larger culture of exclusion that’s been embraced in cities across the nation.
voiceofsandiego.org
December 4, 2025 at 5:16 PM
@bellamayaross.bsky.social: "The primary reason for our dearth of public seating is often unspoken, but obvious: This infrastructure is disproportionally used by poor and unhoused people, for whom a lack of access to private spaces translates into a higher dependence on public amenities."
Via @sandiegouniontribune.com: "The unincorporated parts of San Diego County are in the middle of an ADU boom — and even more could be coming."
A push for more ADUs has hit the Bay Area and San Diego. Vast areas of San Diego County could be next.
An effort is underway to rewrite county law to let owners sell ADUs as condos in unincorporated areas — a policy shift made possible by a new state law looking to boost homeownership.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Via @sandiegouniontribune.com: "The unincorporated parts of San Diego County are in the middle of an ADU boom — and even more could be coming."
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
The Trump administration said that it will move to withhold SNAP food aid from most Democratic-controlled states unless they provide recipient records.
Trump administration says it will withhold SNAP food aid from Democrat-led states over data
The Trump administration said Tuesday that it will withhold SNAP food aid from recipients in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week.
bit.ly
December 2, 2025 at 8:26 PM
The Trump administration said that it will move to withhold SNAP food aid from most Democratic-controlled states unless they provide recipient records.
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
BEEF ALERT: As Mayor Todd Gloria spent much of 2025 pointing fingers at the county on homelessness issues, supervisors mostly tried to keep their heads down.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/12/01/m...
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/12/01/m...
Mayor Picks Fight Over County Homelessness, Behavioral Health Response
Throughout 2025, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria publicly criticized San Diego County – and county officials sought to avoid a battle.
voiceofsandiego.org
December 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
BEEF ALERT: As Mayor Todd Gloria spent much of 2025 pointing fingers at the county on homelessness issues, supervisors mostly tried to keep their heads down.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/12/01/m...
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/12/01/m...
I’m proud to work at @voiceofsandiego.org. It’s a nonprofit that has powered my accountability reporting on San Diego County government, our homelessness crisis, city of San Diego real estate debacles and more.
Do you value the stories my colleagues and I work hard to tell?
Do you value the stories my colleagues and I work hard to tell?
December 2, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I’m proud to work at @voiceofsandiego.org. It’s a nonprofit that has powered my accountability reporting on San Diego County government, our homelessness crisis, city of San Diego real estate debacles and more.
Do you value the stories my colleagues and I work hard to tell?
Do you value the stories my colleagues and I work hard to tell?
Via CBS 8: "The new rules, which took effect on Monday, are expected to affect vulnerable populations and could result in significant demand increases at food banks across the country."
New SNAP work requirements take effect, raising concerns about food insecurity
Millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit recipients must now meet expanded work requirements to maintain their food assistance.
www.cbs8.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Via CBS 8: "The new rules, which took effect on Monday, are expected to affect vulnerable populations and could result in significant demand increases at food banks across the country."
Reposted by Lisa Halverstadt
Federal cuts could force vulnerable San Diegans back to the street. From Federal Impact Reporter Jake Kincaid. inewsource.org/2025/11/26/s...
San Diego's supportive housing faces major federal cuts
San Diego service providers like Father Joe’s and others say they may have to slash permanent supportive housing programs.
inewsource.org
November 27, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Federal cuts could force vulnerable San Diegans back to the street. From Federal Impact Reporter Jake Kincaid. inewsource.org/2025/11/26/s...
🧵I'm back after a Thanksgiving break to deliver some beef. 🥩
It's @voiceofsandiego.org's Beef Week, where we focus on the biggest local disputes.
It's @voiceofsandiego.org's Beef Week, where we focus on the biggest local disputes.
Morning Report: Beef Week: Mayor Todd Gloria vs. the County
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria essentially started 2025 by trying to stir up a fight. He called out the county for what he deems a lack of urgent action on […]
voiceofsandiego.org
December 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
🧵I'm back after a Thanksgiving break to deliver some beef. 🥩
It's @voiceofsandiego.org's Beef Week, where we focus on the biggest local disputes.
It's @voiceofsandiego.org's Beef Week, where we focus on the biggest local disputes.
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
