senior residents council of San Diego

 A United Voice for San Diego’s Seniors partnered with San Diego United Communties.

The SDSAC (San Diego Seniors Advocacy Council) was born from a simple, urgent necessity: our seniors deserve to age with dignity, security, and peace of mind in the city they helped build. While San Diego’s leadership continues to navigate a complex housing crisis, the immediate needs of our elderly population are often lost in bureaucratic delays and rising fees—including recent hikes in utility and trash collection costs that hit fixed-income households the hardest.

We are a grassroots council of residents, advocates, and experts dedicated to holding city leaders accountable. We serve as a watchdog for policy changes that impact senior affordability and a shield against the "no-fault" evictions and aggressive rent hikes that threaten to displace our community's elders.

Our Vision: Affordability Through Partnership

Our vision is a San Diego where age is not a precursor to displacement. We envision a city that prioritizes "Deep Affordability"—ensuring that housing costs never exceed 30% of a senior’s income.

To turn this vision into reality, we have established a cornerstone partnership with San Diego United Communities. By aligning our advocacy with their proven track record of community organizing and economic mobility, we are building a multi-generational front to:

• Audit City Policy: We will provide direct feedback on the City’s Housing Element and Annual Action Plans to ensure senior-specific protections are not just mentioned, but mandated.
• Legislative Advocacy: We support statewide and local efforts, such as the 2026 rent cap tightening, to limit annual increases to a sustainable 2–3% for senior-designated housing.
• Crisis Prevention: Through the United Communities network, we offer seniors a direct line to legal aid and mediation services to fight illegal rent hikes before they lead to homelessness.

Together, we are not just asking for change; we are demanding a seat at the table to ensure San Diego remains a home for all ages.

Strategic Goals: Protecting Our Legacy

The San Diego Seniors Advocacy Council is dedicated to ensuring that no senior is forced out of the city they call home. Our goals focus on legislative accountability, immediate financial relief, and community empowerment.

We will advocate for a "Senior Safety Cap" that limits annual rent increases for residents over 65 to no more than 3%, regardless of the statewide maximum.

• Action: Monitor landlord compliance with the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 and the 2026 local ballot measures.
• Advocacy: Demand that the San Diego City Council implement a "Senior Rent Freeze" for those living in deed-restricted affordable units.

Under current 2026 city guidelines, seniors are entitled to 3 months of rent in relocation assistance for "no-fault" evictions. We aim to double this protection.

• Goal: Secure a 6-month relocation fund for seniors displaced by substantial remodels or owner move-ins.
• Legal Aid: Partner with the National Conflict Resolution Center to provide free mediation services, preventing legal disputes from reaching the courtroom.

Rising city-controlled costs—such as trash collection fees, water rates, and permit costs—disproportionately impact low-income seniors.

• Objective: Eliminate or deeply discount city service fees for households with a primary resident aged 60+ who falls below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
• Transparency: Act as a watchdog for the San Diego City Council’s Legislative Platform, ensuring senior needs are prioritized in every budget cycle. 

We will host Town Halls to bring all San Diego Seniors under one roof to communicate next steps in our discoveries.  Sign up. Stay Informed.