The San Diego City Council Tuesday approved a sweeping Housing Action Package intended to expedite new units constructed across the city to help seniors, students and middle-income families. Mayor Todd Gloria's Housing Action Plan 2.0 is also focused on helping create single-room occupancy units for San Diegans experiencing homelessness, its advocates say. The council voted 7-1 to pass the plan. "The lack of affordable housing is central to many of our city's top challenges, particularly homelessness and sky-high rents," Gloria said in a statement. "This series of reforms will boost the supply of homes and reduce the cost of housing, help our businesses recruit and retain talent and put more hard-earned dollars back into the pockets of everyday San Diegans." The plan includes amendments to the Land Development Code to preserve existing affordable homes and encourage the construction of more new homes. Councilman Stephen Whitburn said many San Diegans without a home are living in their cars, at the homes of friends and families or in shelters. By creating more low-income housing units, the city could reduce overall homelessness numbers, he said. "We have a moral obligation to get them into housing," Whitburn said, reminding his colleagues and those listening that many people experiencing homelessness for the first time were seniors who had been priced out of their homes. "They don't need treatment, they need a home." FULL STORY: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/housing-package-20-heads-back-to-san-diego-city-council/509-cb234775-269d-439e-9c69-0cb19f9e09cc