OCEANSIDE — The city was awarded $3 million for a tiny homes project expected to be located at the Oceanside Navigation Center.
The state funds were awarded by Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) last week from the 2026-27 state budget for interim housing and support services. She said the project aims to provide 17 tiny homes to help individuals transition out of homelessness.
The Point-In-Time Count showed 362 homeless people in Oceanside and 9,803 across San Diego County.
However, the city only learned of the line item after it was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Blakespear made her announcement on Oct. 6, one day before her 4th annual Ending Homeless Summit on Oct. 7 in Carlsbad.
The city has no formal tiny homes policy or project pipeline, but the City Council discussed the potential of adding tiny homes as part of its overall homeless strategy last year, according to city records. The city must identify which state department will oversee spending and the required processes before it goes to the City Council for a formal vote.
The city is aiming to construct the homes quickly and efficiently to help combat the impacts of El Niño storms, Housing and Neighborhood Services Director Lelani Hines told the Union-Tribune.
“We are still in the process of gathering more information on this, and once we understand which state department we will be working with, and what process will be followed, we will return to the City Council to accept the funds,” Assistant City Manager Michael Grossman told the Union-Tribune.
The council endorsed tiny homes as a homeless-response strategy on Feb. 12, 2025, as a method to diversify short-term, housing-focused solutions, which also included safe parking programs and low-barrier shelters, Oceanside Communications & Engagement Manager Terry Gorman Brown said.
