KPBS Evening Edition

Construction Begins On Affordable Housing Complex For Families With Special Needs

By Dwane Brown / KPBS Evening Edition Anchor/Reporter

Published August 15, 2014 at 1:53 PM PDT

This story was published more than 10 years ago.

The San Diego Housing Commission and their partners broke ground Friday in southeastern San Diego on the city's first affordable housing complex for low-income families with special needs.

The complex, called Independence Point, will have three fully accessible flats and three- and four-bedroom townhouses. Twenty-five units will be designated for families with at least one member who is developmentally disabled. Families who earn between $23,000 and $25,000 a year will be eligible for residency.

California Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins spoke at the groundbreaking and has been a long-time advocate for affordable housing in San Diego.

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"It's hard to find the developments that have enough units for family members, and I know how important that is especially when you've got a family member who needs more accommodations," Atkins said.

Construction of the complex is expected to cost $13.5 million and is scheduled for completion in August 2015.

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Dwane Brown

Brown started his career with KPBS in the early '90s as a radio anchor and reporter before expanding his broadcast news experience at CBS radio and television in New York. He’s been a news director, anchor, reporter and correspondent in San Francisco and has worked as a writer, producer, assignment editor and talk show host. He returned to KPBS in 2005. As the former anchor for KPBS Evening Edition, Brown provided an in-depth look at issues and stories relevant to San Diego. He spent nearly seven years as anchor/host of Morning Edition on KPBS Radio. Between 2006 and 2010, the San Diego Press Club named Brown "Best Morning Newscaster" in San Diego Radio. In 2006, the Society of Professional Journalists also named him "Best Morning Newscaster." During that time he managed and taught a two-week high school boot camp for aspiring radio reporters at KPBS in conjunction with the California Chicano News Media Association. Brown studied English/Journalism at San Diego State University and is a Fast Trac graduate from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. He’s a popular public speaker and Toastmaster International member. He’s been master of ceremonies for the American Red Cross, VA Medical Center San Diego, Urban League, San Diego Office of Emergency Services and numerous foundations. Brown is also a voice actor for movie, documentary, television, radio and Internet projects.

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